Monday – An Attitude of Gratitude

Let’s face it, Mondays are usually the day of the week that people generally don’t look forward to.  The cause could be a job you’d like to quit, a boss you want to ignore, a car that needs fixed, the children don’t want to go back to school.  I know I could keep going.  I’m sure you get the point.  It is really hard to have any attitude that is filled with gratitude when we have so much on our plates.

Today, I was driving home from an appointment and this subject came up on the radio station I listen to (EWTN).  Why are we so disheartened when there is so much to be grateful for?  People were calling in and telling what they are grateful for and how just being grateful seemed to change their attitude about Monday’s in general.

I know what you are thinking.  It’s hard to be grateful with everything that is going on around us.  Hurricane Florence, Supreme Court Nominee, The Roman Catholic Church and Politics to name just a few items that were on the news all week-long.  It’s almost like you want to raise your hand and ask permission to leave, with no set place to go.

Most of us have been through health, money issues or came close to some sort of disaster. At one point in my life, I was a divorce with two kids, running an at home daycare.  My ex had lost his job, so there was no alimony or child-support check.  I remember one Monday when I was wondering how I would make it through the week with all of my children’s needs, forgetting my own.  I had an epiphany of sorts that I want to share with you.

I had put the kids down for a nap and started walking through the house.  What did I need to do to make it to pay-day.  It was then that I realized I needed to do nothing but do my job and be a mother.  Huh?

• My electricity, water, gas and phone were on and I had no shut-off notices threatening that status.
• My car was in good repair, it had gas and the insurance was paid.
• I had just enough food (milk, bread, eggs. bologna, hot dogs, macaroni & cheese and oatmeal to name a few) to feed all of the kids, including my own.
• I had a garden full of vegetables.
• I had my health.

There are many entrepreneurs who have stories just like this and worse.  It made you humble.  It made you grateful for what you had, instead of despondent over what you don’t have.  You realize you can live on less and have more.  You also begin feeling a bit less frustrated and have an attitude of gratitude.

In a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams, sometimes all you need to do is be grateful for the bounty that you have.