Welcome to 2019. I don’t know if your 2018 was a season of abundance, a year of tough lessons or a mix of the two. Either way, I have amazing news for you… Our best days are AHEAD of us, not behind us. THESE are the good ol’ days… and this year is going to be epic, if you choose it!
“Our best days are AHEAD of us, not behind us.”
-Katie Hedrick
Let’s jump right on in to 2019 with 3 daily actions to produce happiness in the New Year! They can be summed up in one word… Gratitude. Are you ready? Let’s do it.
- When you wake up in the morning, before you jump into #allthethings, write down 5 things you are thankful for. Look past the obvious… your house, food, clothing and really dig deeper. Are you thankful for your kiddos? Be more specific… think “I’m thankful that my daughter asked me to snuggle her for 5 more minutes last night. I’m thankful that my little guy hugged me when he got home from school, without being prompted to.” Are you thankful that you have a job? Think “I’m thankful to be able to help provide for my family or I’m thankful that I’m able to do fulfilling work.” Keep a notebook beside your bed so that it’s easily within reach. Beginning your morning with gratitude will set the tone for your entire day.
- Family “Thankful Table Talk“… Our family’s favorite topic around the table is thankfulness. We take turns sharing one thing that we are thankful for, and why. It gives us a chance to see the things that are really important to our kids and it puts all of us in a gratitude mindset, as individuals and as a family. Bonus: Sometimes the kids share snippets of their school day when it’s their turn. We all know how hard it can be to get kiddos to open up about what’s happening at school and what’s really important to them.
- Finish the day with a Prayer of Gratitude. I’ve been practicing this for a really long time. It’s the BEST way to finish out the day. The things that come out of our mouth are really, really important and what we focus on is what we create more of. When we focus on gratitude, it will spill over into other areas of our life. When we are thankful for our blessings, more blessings flow. My kids have learned to finish their day with a Prayer of Gratitude and if they are having trouble falling asleep at night, it’s the one constant comforting thing that always helps them drift off to sleep peacefully. I love knowing that their minds and hearts are full of gratitude while they rest.
There it is, friend. It’s all about moving forward and choosing gratitude and these 3 actions will have you practicing gratitude all day long in 2019. I encourage you to practice them until they become habits. Gratitude is the secret sauce to living a happy life. Out with 2018. In with 2019!
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I love your blog! Really great advice for everyone out there! Happy 2019!
Thank you!! Happy New Year!
Gratitude is a powerful thing! I was totally bummed when the dreaded flu bug hit our house NYE day and we had to cancel our annual party (after buying the food and fireworks of course!) However, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. It forced my husband and I to stop and really look at our life. We are abundantly blessed. In the stillness, our hearts had a chance to acknowledge the gratitude which so often gets pushed aside in the chaos of busyness. This may be my all time favorite New Years as my husband and I bowed our heads and prayed in the new year together. I am looking forward to making room everyday for gratitude…even the flu.
Love this comment! You are full of gratitude and beauty from the inside to the outside, sweet lady!! 💜