Do you generally wake up everyday happy to be alive and grateful for everything you’ve got? I’m going to be honest here; I don’t. I’m embarrassed to say my default setting is low grade pessimism. These six pretty watercolor appreciation quotes are here to help remind you (and me) that life is pretty awesome and there is always something to be thankful for!
Life’s biggest blessings aren’t always easy…
In everyday life the same things I am the most grateful for are the exact same things that drive me batty. I adore my family. But I know I’m not alone when I say sometimes I think if I don’t get a break from them I might lose my mind. That’s not unique. right? This mom job is hard.
As a stay at home mom I’m on call 24/7. I’m there to serve. Except when I just cannot anymore. I can feel my responses becoming clipped. I’m not being patient or rational or my kindest self. While on a logical level I know this I still struggle to regain my mom mojo.
I am an introvert through and through. I need time alone to feel like myself. Time alone is seriously hard to come by in this season of life. My people find me wherever I go. But until I have a break from my lovely family I can’t appreciate being with them. I need to miss them. And guess what, a few hours of quiet and I’m ready to mom again.
I wouldn’t trade the struggles for easy…
The things that make daily life hard are also the most worthwhile parts of life, hands down. I couldn’t imagine my life without the same family that occasionally drives me bonkers.
Cultivate gratitude…
For one, taking care of myself and not just my people, helps me to be a grateful person. Slowing down and being present in the moment is a skill. I’m learning. If I’m semi-rested, well fed, and have had a few hours of alone time each week I’m a new girl. I like people again.
Second, just remembering that life, parenting life especially, is full of seasons. The things that are hard today will change tomorrow. You can’t control the changes life throws at you but you can put on your rose colored glasses and enjoy the ups and downs.
Another thing that makes me remember all I have to be grateful for is writing it down. Gratitude journals are a big thing right now and for good reason. Putting something in writing really helps it stay front and center in my mind. I think this kind of journaling, no matter how you do it, really does change the perspective of the day!
I really love this one. It’s kind of like a gratitude bullet journal except with fewer creative demands on you mind. For me- this kind of thing needs to be right in front of me, and easy, for me to stick with it!
Life can be tricky….
Over the past year my extended family life has kind of bit the dust. There’s been conflict, sleepless nights, and worrying over one thing or another. The questions from my kids who understand a little that “family” is different now than it used to be but aren’t mature enough to digest the whole story have been enough to break my heart. I’ve spent a year feeling devastated that my family and I are expendable.
The end result is the same. No matter how much I hate the situation and would love to see change and healing; it’s not coming. I’ve truly made my peace with this broken relationship for myself if not for my kids. I refuse to let it steal the joy from the rest of life.
Life isn’t always what we expect.
Family is complicated.
People are broken.
But I wake up everyday to a family that literally exudes love I am grateful beyond words that God placed me in the middle of this messy family. I choose to spend my days being grateful for that!
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There you’ll find this set of appreciation quotes under the heading “Pretty Printables.” Click on the thumbnail image and this whole set of quotes about being thankful will pop up in easy to print PDF form!
