When you find yourself having trouble falling asleep: count thanks. I tried it the other night and it worked. I drifted off somewhere around 124. It probably wasn’t a coincidence that I awakened the next morning feeling exceptionally refreshed and hopeful. In fact, researchers have found a connection between gratitude and a whole bunch of good stuff, like better health, improved relationships, and dealing with adversity. It helps to recognize that goodness is not just in us but all around us.
Two tips to keep in mind should you try this. One. When counting thanks, don’t critique your thoughts. There is no right or wrong, good or bad counting. When ordinary things like cinnamon flavored toothpicks, small brown stones, and dental floss come to mind, don’t shrink from their common-ness; just embrace it. Two. When you hit the 70 mark, don’t give up. This is when things will start to surprise you. People long forgotten may rise to the surface, like the crossing guard you haven’t seen since you were ten, but with a hello, a smile, and a stop sign, saw you safely across the intersection at Inkster and Westnedge.
Here, in no particular order, are just twelve of the things that I counted in my list of thanks:
1. For this moment.
2. For the Kalamazoo Public Schools that open their doors to all of our children. For the teachers, secretaries, janitors, principals, para-pros, administrators and bus drivers who tend our most precious resources: children.
3. Discovering “Starfish.” A poem by Eleanor Lerman, “Starfish” begins:
This is what life does. It lets you walk up to
the store to buy breakfast and the paper, on a
stiff knee. It lets you choose the way you have
your eggs, your coffee….
This poem not only spoke to my cruddy knees, it swept me away with the common voice of gratitude. You can read the whole thing here.
4. For that fourth grader who told me she was most thankful for having shelter.
5. For my cruddy knees that help me move through this world.
6. For the children among us who had no Thanksgiving meal.
7. For the big hearted among us, like TJ Duckett and his New World Flood and all the folks at Hands Up Project, who made lovely meals and memories possible for hundreds of children and their families this Thanksgiving.
8. For the mother who accepted the donated meal with sheer joy.
9. For the mother who accepted the donated meal with downcast eyes.
10. For students like Chris Boes whose steadfast pursuit of education brings to mind the quote, “Adversity does not build character. It reveals it.”
11. For partners like Western Michigan University who surround and celebrate students and make us proud to be a part of this community.
12. For efforts to reclaim this season and infuse it with true giving. #GivingTuesday(which is today!) does just that by generating conversations about ways to give more, give smarter, and put personal philanthropy back into the giving season.
Speaking of #GivingTuesday, Kalamazoo Fifth Third Bank branches celebrated by giving a generous donation of Thanksgiving food baskets, winter coats, clothing, and personal care items for our CIS Site Coordinators to distribute from Kids’ Closet.
Are you giving back in ways that matter to you? Have you taken a moment to support the Promise Me Campaign? Encouraged others to do so? What are you thankful for? Start counting
Tags: #GivingTuesday, Chris Boes, CIS, CIS Site Coordinators, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Eleanor Lerman, Fifth Third Bank, giving, Giving Tuesday, Hands Up Project, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kids' Closet, New World Flood, Philanthropy, Thanks, Western Michigan University
