This is a challenging time of year for me. A year ago almost to the day, I lost my oldest sister to cancer. She was diagnosed in July of 2014 and came to live with my family because we lived closest to the doctors. In the following 4 months she made a huge impression not only on me but also my husband and our four kids. I am thankful for her and the opportunity we had to get to know her better, for the time that we were able to spend with her. It is hard, so hard, to lose a loved one. I can’t explain to you what went through my mind on the day she passed away last year. So many regrets, so many should-haves and could-haves still go through my mind. It is only when I sit down and write out a list of things I am thankful for – my #ThankList – I am able to remember all of the good things, the amazing ways she touched my life and it helps me through the hardest times.
All of my brothers and sisters have made a huge impact in my life. I have been blessed with a good family. My parents are my rock, my husband and my kids are my foundation and God is my guiding beacon. Without these elements in my life I wouldn’t be who I am. Do you know who you are thankful for in your life? Who has influenced your life and made you the person you are today? American Greetings is partnering with United Way Worldwide as part of the ThankList campaign. It is to give back during the season of gratitude and for each #ThankList shared on social, American Greetings will donate $1 to United Way Worldwide. Funds donated during the campaign will be allocated towards hunger prevention. I think this is such a great imitative and it is an easy way to pay it forward. All you have to do is share your ThankList using the #ThankList hashtag on your social media. Be sure to encourage others to do so as well.
Instead of burying ourselves in our phones, tablets and computers that are leaving us all more disconnected or focusing on the hateful news feeds plastered everywhere nowadays, we need to focus on positive things and show more gratitude. By writing down the things we are grateful for will help trigger positive health benefits of gratitude as well as allowing us to understand ourselves better and drive us to do more and do better. American Greetings wants to inspire remedies in a rude thoughtless world by giving people a new purpose. If we all work together to make the world a more thoughtful and caring place by showing our gratitude in the simplest form possible. By sending out a Tweet or posting to Instagram or Facebook and listing the names people for whom they’re thankful. Just by saying Thank You it can really start reminding people to make a change and support a cultural movement.
How do you make this list? It’s easy. Just tweet or post on Instagram or Facebook the names of the people for whom you’re thankful. And make sure to add the hashtag #ThankList. So what are you waiting for? Who is on your #ThankList?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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