Look! A milestone! #2,000
I’m on a mission. A mission to see. A mission to share. A mission to write.
Happy Day Moments.
I write Facebook posts about “living with gratitude.” Finding a happy day moment. Every day. And now I’ve hit a milestone: writing a “Happy Day Moment” for 2,000 consecutive days.
I know it’s rather grandiose of me to think that my small little space, my Facebook presence can make a big change in how others think about gratitude, but if I’ve learned anything in the last 2,000 days, it’s that when it comes to talking about living with gratitude, and about how we use our words – we can’t do it enough.
Let me tell you a story.
On April 1, 2010, I started with Happy Day Moment #1 on my Facebook page. Reading so many Facebook posts that were negative, complaining, even whining, I was determined to use my posts as a more positive platform.
My goal for this project was to make myself focus on some “moment” during each day where I could be positive, thankful, and “happy” that I was alive. To slow down. Just for a bit. And to use my words to express gratitude.
Throughout these 2,000 postings, I’ve experienced days with moments of love, joy, celebration, laughter, happiness – unexpected moments. But I’ve also had some days that were kinda crummy and achy and some that were soaked in confusion, sadness, sickness, grief and disappointments.
For in writing good words, for finding “happy” moments and sharing them, I’ve discovered that I’m more thoughtful, more encouraging, more inspired, more aware – of the goodness of life all around me.
Words. Matter. Even on Facebook.
Words we write. Words we say.
And I hope the same for others who read any posts #1 through #2000.
On my desk are five books, each one comprised of Facebook posts from the five years that I’ve written a daily Happy Day Moment. The routine, the exercise, the commitment to seek and find a “happy moment” every day, has shaped me, renewed my faith, my thankfulness, my vision.
After years of leaning into gratitude, I know I’ve only scratched the surface of this powerful principle. I realize my pursuit of gratitude isn’t an accident, as much as preparation for what has come my way during these last few years. Preparing to see me through – because when it comes to the struggles of life, we need gratitude to be our companion.
Because this is what happens:
Words of gratitude lift us above circumstance.
Sometimes the wall of difficulties we face appears too tall to scale. But the presence of gratitude lifts and carries us. We become stronger, more agile, infused with what we need, not just to face the barrier, but to search for a way around or over that we hadn’t considered before.
Words of gratitude refocus our attention.
They change our perspective. We’re never off on the wrong foot when we step out in gratitude. We can’t think negatively when we focus on the positive. We’re less judgmental, resentful, or divisive when we’re thankful for our relationships (especially the complicated ones). Sometimes it’s easy to focus on our hurts or sorrows and miss all of the other places that good things are happening. It’s possible for good things and hard things to co-exist in our lives. We show wisdom when we can focus on being thankful and noticing the good, instead of concentrating on the bad.
Words of gratitude bring us joy.
Those who live in gratitude have the most joyful lives. It’s impossible to miss the joy when we’re on the lookout for blessings. We won’t miss out on the moments when we’re present and rooted in each one as it comes.
Words are powerful. Even words written in a Facebook post.
Let’s make our words a powerful happy mission.
Let’s unleash the power of gratitude.
