Prompted by Your Posts: Gratitude and Hair Washing

Recently I've been reading some of my favorite bloggers and started to leave a comment on what they posted to find "Hmmm, I have a lot of ideas and feelings about this, maybe I should write about it instead of leaving a big huge comment."  So that's what I'm doing.  Consider me influenced and prompted by these lovely ladies:

Elisabeth has been hosting a series of bloggers talking about gratitude, as well as increasing her own awareness of joy and gratitude in her life.  We all *know* that being more grateful and content with what we have is a great way to feel more joyful and peaceful, and yet we all need the reminders, don't we?  

Besides singing the VeggieTales song in my head "A thankful heart is a happy heart, I'm glad for what I have, that's an easy way to start..."

 

 ... I've also found these practices work for me when I'm feeling less than content:

1. I have to ---> I get to

A wise mom told me this when I was deep in the trenches of four kids aged four and under.  Replace I HAVE to with I GET to.  I get to be the one who feeds them dinner, I get to be the one who keeps them safe, I get to bathe them and comfort them and change their diapers.  It's just semantics, but it really did help to remind me that I was chosen for this role to these specific little humans and how lucky was I?

2. Compare down

My husband figured this one out for me whenever I was in my habit of comparison to others.  When life felt a bit overwhelming and I would comment that it was unfair that "their house is bigger, his car is newer, she doesn't have to work, they didn't have college loans, their parents help with the kids, etc. etc" my husband would tell me that I was comparing UP and I should try comparing DOWN.  Think about all those people who have less than us, who would love to be in our situation, who struggle to have children, who can't afford college or a house, who don't have a strong family, who are lonely or sick.  Instead of looking at what I lack, look at all I am blessed to have.  Instant reset button.

3. How would I like to be remembered

When people describe someone, and they use words like "complainer, melancholic, downer, nitpicker, difficult, mean-spirited" that is the exact opposite of how I want to be remembered.  Thinking about how you're viewed by others and how you come across is a great way to work on those parts of our personalities that need some fine tuning.  I can feel like complaining but choose not to do it and say something complimentary instead.  I might feel like life is hard, but I can still put on a smile and hug a loved one.  It's not exactly faking it until you make it, but it is trying to see yourself from another's point of view.

4. Everything's a season

This one is obvious, the baby will be potty trained one day, the picky eater will become an adult who cooks for themselves one day, the kids who need rides everywhere will get their licenses one day.  Just like life on this earth, it's all temporary and this too shall pass.  We might even miss it!

5. Offer it up

Will these words be written on my mom's tombstone?  I think so!  She reminded us to never let the suffering go to waste, because by offering it up, we can unite our pain to Jesus' sacrifice and God can use it as a prayer for another's healing or salvation.  We offer up the good, the bad, and the ugly, constantly glorifying God and willingly accepting His Will as it comes.  So even when it's hard to be grateful in a situation, we can at least feel that we are doing something by offering it up.

6. Go to Confession

Say you're sorry, get forgiven, try not to do it again.  Boom.  Better than therapy.  Walk away feeling instantly lighter and more loving and grateful.

~

Now, on a less philosophical and theological note, Suzanne mentioned that she received a new hair dryer for her birthday and got to use it on her hair washing day.  I think this is the healthier way to care for one's hair, by not washing it every day, but I don't understand how one manages this.  Is my hair just naturally greasier?  Is it because I exercise and sweat every day?  I just cannot imagine getting into bed at night without washing my whole body, hair included.  Teach me your secrets ladies!  Dry shampoo?  Certain hairstyles?  Accepting that greasy look?