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20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude for Your Home

Attitude of Gratitude

Back in 2008 I shared a list of our family’s 20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude, things I wanted our son and our family to work on around the home. I’ve been thinking it is high time we revisit it, both for our own family and to hopefully inspire your family as well! I looked through the list I made back then and was thinking of updating it this week, but you know what? I still love everything on that list — so here it is!

20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude

  1. Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
  2. Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
  3. Pick up after yourself.
  4. Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
  5. Say I love you before going to bed.
  6. Give hugs daily.
  7. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
  8. Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
  9. Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
  10. Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
  11. Encourage someone with a compliment.
  12. Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining.
  13. Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
  14. Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
  15. Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
  16. No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
  17. Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
  18. Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards of special times.
  19. Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
  20. When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” –Melodie Beatty

By making a list of 20 attitudes we can work on and putting them into practice, we can make our homes a much happier place to be not only for Thanksgiving but every day of the year. I encourage you to make your own gratitude list. Share it in the comments today, or create one with your family, and even write a post about it for your blog or Facebook and let me know you shared it!

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20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude for Your Home

14 Comments

  1. Julie M. ~ The Little Red Shop

    Ohh…God bless you! I especially love the idea of keeping a basket on the table for thankful notes to read during meals.

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Julie M.
    ps I’m going to share your sweet inspiration on my facebook pages & twitter.

    Reply
  2. Denise

    I try to live with an attitude of gratitude every single day. I had knee surgery yesterday and before they put me under, I thanked my surgeon, anesthetist and nurses for taking such good care of me. They seemed shocked and then pleasantly surprised that someone had thanked them. I make sure I thank the bus driver when I get off the bus and the cashier when I pay for my groceries. It takes so little effort and might just make someone’s day.

    Reply
    • Karen

      Such a remarkable act of gratitude. I will certainly put that into practice. Thanks for the reminder!

      Reply
  3. DonnaS

    I agree that a little “thank you” can mean so much! Great post!

    Reply
  4. Lisa

    I love this list, Melissa! Especially the “no grumbling about minor annoyances” (I need that reminder) and when doing household chores, be glad to have a house to clean (my kids need that one!). Thanks for sharing this…..I’m going to print it out and put it on my fridge!
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    Reply
  5. maria

    What a great list! I will definitely share it with my family! I’m sure it will make an impact! Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Diane | An Extraordinary Day

    I love your 20 Melissa. It’s inspiring me to do a take-off on that for my weekly JoyDay! post (which I’m writing this morning, ahem, for tomorrow) where we take time each week to count seven things for which we’re grateful.

    For my #31Days series I put together a list of 52 ways to be encouraging. There are several suggestions there that include gratitude as well. http://anextraordinaryday.net/52-practical-and-thoughtful-ways-to-encourage-others/ It seems these two go together like a hand in a glove. When we have thankful hearts we are quick to look around us and give a helping hand or offer a word of encouragement. Without gratitude we tend to be self-absorbed.

    Your table is so inviting. May you and your family enjoy the most joyful of Thanksgivings. [hugs]

    Reply
  7. Karen

    Thanks for sharing this article … Very timely and yet, true, we can all practice this in our daily living. I will share this with my family members to cultivate that “attitudes of gratitude” … we complained about little nuisances disguised as blessings … it’s our perspective that alters our attitude towards things. Simply written and yet to many, compelling. :-)

    Reply
  8. teresa

    Thank you for sharing your families list…beautiful. We have many alike. I always like to remind family members to be kinder than they think they should and forgive freely.
    Have a wonderful Thanks Giving.

    Reply
  9. Lynne

    Love this! i’m also going to print this list off and keep it posted nearby at work. Thank you for your inspiring words today!

    Reply
  10. Doreen Grace

    I especially like Number 12:Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining. It’s so upside down and lopsided from what we naturally default to, but completely changes our frame of mind into the one we long for.

    I love this list… and feel like I have some love notes I should go write now! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  11. Natascia Russo

    Being grateful is a way to be happy in life. Thanks for the good thoughts this Thanksgiving. I hope to have a great holiday! :)

    Reply
  12. charity@teaselwooddesign.com

    In our household we have a policy to send thanks every day for what we have been given. I have to print this list there are so many wonderful ones that are perfect for our family to think about in addition.

    Reply

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