Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Life

Why I Started to Intentionally Think About Thankfulness

November 19, 2014June 11, 2019 Crystal // Dreams, etc. Post a comment
Why I Started to Intentionally Think About Thankfulness

Before I start today’s post, I wanted to say that I will be taking over The Blog Baton on Instagram on Friday, so follow the account to see my pictures for that day, as well as the other great bloggers who take over the account each day. If you haven’t heard of The Blog Baton, it’s an Instagram that passes from one person to the next each day. It is hosted by Mason… Like the Jar and you can visit her blog to find out more about The Blog Baton.

Thankfulness is a topic that I’ve written about regularly on my blog over the years. It’s something that I intentionally take time to think about, but it’s not something that I’ve always done. A few years ago I discovered a blog called The Thank You Project, written by a woman who challenged herself to blog every day about something that she was thankful for. I discovered her blog towards the end of her year-long project, but her challenge was something that stuck with me. I decided that I wanted to take time to focus on what I was thankful for, so I took on my first “gratitude project,” which was to write down something that I was thankful for every day on a sticky note and put it on my wall. I kept them there for a long time, even after I stopped writing something down every day, until they started to lose their stickiness and fell off.

When I stopped recording something that I was thankful for every day, I didn’t stop thinking about it. What my few months of writing things down on sticky notes proved to me is that I became a different person–even in that short amount of time. I complained less and I was happier. I started to focus on the good things, instead of the bad. Take this weekend, for instance. The furnace stopped working and it was ten degrees outside, so it was pretty cold in the house. But it wasn’t all bad. It could have been colder outside. I had a warm sweatshirt and slippers, and a dog who I have always referred to as my personal furnace during winter. I have a fireplace that provided some warmth to the house. That’s how I’ve started to view life ever since I started to intentionally think about thankfulness. I look at the good first, instead of the bad.

Does this mean that I’m always happy and that I no longer have bad days? No, of course not. I have bad days and I still find myself complaining. The difference now is that I catch myself and I force myself to stop dwelling on the bad. When I notice that I’ve been complaining for a period of time, I take on a gratitude project. I even take them on when I haven’t been grumpy. There’s always something to be thankful for, and I want to remember that.

DO YOU INTENTIONALLY THINK ABOUT THANKFULNESS? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU?


Bloglovin’ // Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest // Facebook

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

6 Ways to Pull Yourself Out of a Funk When You’re Feeling a Bit Curmudgeonly
Little One’s Adventures // The Traitor

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

An early morning turned into a magical afternoon. An early morning turned into a magical afternoon.

#ofwhimsicalmoments #myseasonalstory 
#aseasonalshift #autumnvibes #autumnaesthetic 
#autumnmood #autumndays #novembermood #hellonovember #novembervibes
A gloomy afternoon in October that I forgot to pos A gloomy afternoon in October that I forgot to post.
Monday was a long day, but a good day. #ditl #day Monday was a long day, but a good day.

#ditl #dayinthelife #dailyvlog #minivlog #lifestyle #worklife #documentyourlife #momentsofmine #worktime #workday
Spend Saturday morning with me. #ditl #minivlog # Spend Saturday morning with me.

#ditl #minivlog #slowliving #slowlife #naturelovers
Hua hua vibes in the Midwest. Hua hua vibes in the Midwest.
Life has felt a little stressful lately so here ar Life has felt a little stressful lately so here are some good moments from the week:

1. Mina, on what used to be my softest blanket which is now hers.

2. Dinner with my bestie, @foxtrot_anhthu 

3. An early morning.

4. I have been craving chicken saag for weeks and finally got some before a poetry event (that is not pictured even though I meant to include one).

5. Jambalaya at a church event.

6. A fall bonfire.
Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis.
A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone ca A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone call with niece, dogs. What was your Sunday like?
Summer has never been my favorite season so I inte Summer has never been my favorite season so I intentionally try to find those moments that I enjoy. Here’s one from summer 2023: sitting outside and watching this bird couple care for their babies.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
  • A Week in Idaho
  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (53)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (58)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (225)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | © 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.