I'M BACK!

You have no idea how good it feels to say that. After what turned out to be a much needed break and reality check, I'm back! During my break, I had a lot of time to think about and reflect on how much this blog really means to me - how much YOU mean to me. I am beyond excited for everything I have planned and even more excited for the things that aren't planned. That being said, lets jump right in!

This weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada, and when I begin to think about my life, I have SO much to be thankful for. I think its such an attractive quality in people when they are full of gratitude. When they really have a grasp on how blessed they really are and the don't take things for granted. I want to be that kind of person.

I used to be a complainer, a big one. If i'm being honest, I still complain more than I should. A while back, a close friend and I were having a very real, raw and honest conversation with each other about our strengths and our weaknesses. This friend pointed out to me (with so much love) that I tend to complain... a lot. At first, I got defensive. Me?! Melissa?! A complainer!? No freaking way. I started to pay close attention to my words and my thoughts - it hit me. I was a complainer. That very moment I started to do something, something that has totally changed my thoughts and my words. Every night before I go to bed (ok, almost every night) I write down in my journal a list of things I'm thankful for. I'm telling you, this has helped me SO much.

When I think back, and eve think about presently, I have no excuse to complain. I have the best life. I think part of the problem stems from the culture that we exist in. A culture that tells us to never be content with what we have or who we are. A culture that is constantly telling us that we constantly need more. We are always comparing our lives and what we have to the people around us. We never seem to be satisfied. How sad is that, my heart hurts for the culture we live in. How hard is it to look at our lives and burst with gratitude and joy. Even in the hardest of times, we have so much to be thankful for. How much happier would we be as a culture if we stopped comparing, stopped complaining and stop focusing on what we don't have. Instead, we focus of how flippen blessed we are, how many good and beautiful things we have in our life. I think we would be greatly surprised with the results.

So this thanksgiving weekend (or this weekend for those reading outside of Canada), I challenge you to rethink your posture. Pay close attention to your words, actions and thoughts. Are you someone that is full of gratitude and thanksgiving, or are you consumed with comparison and complaining. In those moments when you are tempted to complain and compare, do what ever it takes to capture those words and thoughts and use the opportunity to give thanks. Reflect on the good. Your life will be so much richer. I challenge you to start keeping a gratitude journal! I know how much that helped me and has helped a few of my friends as well. You can never be too thankful! To conclude todays post, I thought I would write my own list of things that Im thankful for on this sunday afternoon.

I am thankful for...

My church, Jesus + the freedom I have to freely worship.
My family
Lattes that are bigger than my face
Laughter
The fact that the weather has cooled down - fall is the best
New friends + old friends
Big cozy cardigans
My Beloved
YOU - seriously, I am so thankful for all the untold stories and people I have yet to meet, even the ones I already have met. You are so important to me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone

- Melissa