3 WAYS TRAVEL CAN CAUSE US TO BE EXTRA GRATEFUL & HOW TO CELEBRATE THIS THANKFUL THURSDAY
I’m sure most of us know that now is as good of a time as any to be grateful, and to celebrate every Thursday as a Thankful Thursday.
However, there is just something about travel that brings out a specific gratitude and reason to be thankful.
Definitely comment below which numbers resonates most with you!
#1. FIXED TIME WITH FAMILY
While traveling alone, with friends, or even with a partner, we begin to see that we have less time with family. Sometimes this can spark us to become more present, listen, overlook the little things, and enjoy our family’s presence.
After moving from Washington to Arizona knowing nobody, I had loved it. It was like an entirely new start and fresh beginning.
Although, I began to look at photos of family often, caught myself talking about them often, and even got excited to visit them during the holidays.
So, when I went to visit that holiday season, I began to see a change in my behavior, It was as if all the Thankful Thursdays happened at once.
I changed by wanting to listen more, becoming more present, basking in my family’s company, and realizing that every moment was a bit more precious before because the time was fixed and less frequent.
#2. BASKING IN THE DEPTHS OF CONNECTION
Similarly, having fixed time with family, we also begin to really bask in the enjoyment of deep connections.
Unfortunately, when traveling to places for a short period of time, that also means that the connections can only reach that time limit of depth as well.
Also, when I refer to connections, I refer to any form of relationship really.
So, when we are in an area for a longer span of time, or even living somewhere for a while, we are able to reach new those deeper levels of connection.
Overall, those deeper connections can cause us to be more thankful, realizing we have built a deeper trust, dependable person, established giving & receiving, collaborating, etc.
Especially since connections require effort, time, presence, listening, and understanding.
#3. SEEING OTHER WAYS OF LIVING
Whenever going to another country or even traveling through areas that are not as established, and seeing how others live can really open our eyes.
In other words, seeing those that are less fortunate, those that have less than, seeing other’s cultural expectations, seeing other country confinements as well as learning the different histories of what people have been through can truly riddle us with gratitude.
“We believe our problems are the greatest and our misfortunes the worst, there is always someone out there who has suffered more”. — Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
For example, while traveling with family and riding quads up to a zip line, and out of the corner of my eye, I had seen young children sleeping and playing under a tarp with 4 wooden pillars. It appeared to be their home.
Immediately, I went into a state of gratitude and came to realize that I had so much to be thankful for.
Truly seeing that alone shows me a completely new level of gratitude I would not normally have seen in my hometown, and that’s why travel can allow us to be extra grateful for what we have.
HOW TO CELEBRATE THANKFUL THURSDAY
Missing somebody? Call them
Want to meet up with someone? Invite them
Love someone? Tell them
Like something/Grateful for something? Say it
Enjoying a moment? Bask in it and savor it
Feeling inspired? Journal it
Don’t want to have this be the only Thankful Thursday? Practice every day or if that’s too much – try every Thursday!
If you’re reading this; you have power, an electronic device, eyesight, and are alive! There are ways to find gratitude in every single moment!!
Don’t forget to share and spread your gratitude on this very special Thankful Thursday!
PS: I’m thankful for you being a supporter!
