{"id":6380,"date":"2020-02-13T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-13T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atinytrip.com\/?p=6380"},"modified":"2021-01-15T17:47:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T21:47:49","slug":"cultivating-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atinytrip.com\/cultivating-gratitude\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultivating Gratitude (when you have little kids)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Are you a parent of a small child? Struggling to enjoy your daily life through the drudge of chores, pick-ups, drop-offs and everything in between? Or perhaps you are child free but dreaming of your next vacation just so you can escape your day to day life. If any of these circumstances apply to you, then this post is for you. One of the best ways to develop our resiliency for dealing with the not-so glamorous parts of life is cultivating a habit of gratitude. The two methods I lay out will help you enjoy each day even when life gives you lemons. Set your mind to it and read on for all the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Cultivate Gratitude<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of every year, seemingly every other media outlet is pushing you to set goals<\/a>, to buy products to help you set goals, to guilt you into what you’re doing wrong already. Here at A Tiny Trip my goal is first and foremost to be a positive resource. I strive to inspire, but even more so, to help<\/em> with actual concrete advice as it relates to travel<\/a> and life with kids<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel in and of itself is inspiring, humbling and gratifying in so many ways. However, many of us in this day and age of social media can feel the green monster creeping up on us. When we have to stay home<\/a>, or after we come back from a trip<\/a>, it’s easy to fall into a rut. That’s where cultivating gratitude comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no one way to cultivate gratitude in ourselves and our children. However, there are several different methods I have personally employed, and two that have become habits. I hope that by sharing these today, you will keep the excitement alive and a full heart for your children, those around you and yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1: Train Yourself to Notice the Good<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If there is only one habit I strongly suggest to cultivate, it’s this one. Every day, make a note of something good<\/strong>. This could be something you are grateful for, or happy about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One technique I have heard a lot about is writing in a gratitude journal. I did try this one year a few years ago but just couldn’t keep up with it. So I don’t write it down (maybe I should), but I do have my eyes and mind open for a passing thought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very often these moments happen when out and about, or just going about the every day. The important thing is that they happen, and they are noticed<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lesson I have learned is that when we are mindful of all that surrounds us, it is easy to find something to be grateful for<\/strong>. And as a bonus, when you notice the good, then the annoying and frustrating events are much easier to brush off your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some way, the act of noticing, makes it easy to commit these blessings, beauty and joyful moments to your memory<\/strong>. At the very least, your short term memory will be full of positivity. In the long term, we are committing to a positive mindset, which is a resilient mindset<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gratitude in the Fall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Examples of Things to Be Grateful For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are examples from the past few months of things I have made a note of, just to give you some ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n