When someone on social media orders me to like, share, retweet or post something, I follow a simple two-step process.
Step 1: Ignore it.
Step 2: There is no Step 2.
However, last Friday a friend nominated me to post three things I’m thankful for every day for five days, which is a current Facebook trend. At first, I was unenthusiastic. Posting what I was thankful for on Facebook because someone tagged me in a post seemed fake and self-serving.
I decided to deal with it as I deal with all my problems and put it off until later.
Still, as I went through my day, my mind kept going back to the post I was going to have to make later.
What was I thankful for? Every time I asked myself that question, I added new things to the list in my head. It didn’t take long to think of more than three.
Despite the fact that I had been cranky and stressed that morning, I found my mood improving throughout the day as I spent more time picking out all the good things in my life.
I tend to be a pessimistic person. Often I get to the end of a day and all I can think about is what went wrong.
By the end of that Friday, all I could focus on was the positive.
I reached the end of my five days yesterday, and I’ve enjoyed writing every post. It’s tempting to end a long day by complaining to my roommates about everything that annoyed me, but spending that time reflecting on what I have to be thankful for is not only better for my attitude, but it also saves my roommates from having to listen to me whine.
Even if you are like me and hate Facebook challenges, I encourage you to spend the next five days [or longer] listing at least three things you are thankful for. Post it on Facebook or write it in a notebook, but keep a record somewhere. Being able to look back through a list of things you love is a great way to de-stress.
When I read what I wrote over the past five days, it reminds me to appreciate the things I listed, but it also reminds me of how good life is.
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