How to Develop an Attitude of Gratitude

Filed under: Small Business Owners - Running the Show 

Oh, goodness! Another post on gratitude as we approach Thanksgiving Day… Scrolling through my feed reader shows one grateful post after another.

“An attitude of gratitude gives me an aptitude for living.”

If you ever spent time in a 12-Step program, then you know this is a frequent prescription for what ails you — anxiety, depression, anger. No matter the complaint, counting your blessings will fix you right up.

homeless in atlanta

"You are looking at the face of a VERY unhappy man"

And yet, counting my blessings is simply one more way to keep the focus on me. Not a word in there about reaching out and helping others (another 12-Step prescription.)

So, all this talk of gratitude made me want to tell you about the “bags of grace” my church and others prepare.

Grace Bags are thick brown paper lunch bags stored in your car and shared when you encounter a person of need.

The bags include:

  • bottled water
  • healthy snack bars or similar snack items
  • soap and shampoo (hotel size)
  • tooth paste and brush
  • new socks (unisex)
  • public transportation tokens
  • prayer card
  • social service resource guide

I keep four or five of these bags in my car at all times.

This year I’m inviting clients to join me for coffee and dessert to assemble Grace Bags.

What else would you include in a Grace Bag? Will this make it easier to have eye contact with folks less fortunate? How does an “attitude of gratitude” increase your aptitude for living?

Photo Credit: Homeless in Atlanta

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Comments

  • [...] of my favorites is from Kathy Drewien, How to Develop an Attitude of Gratitude. She is a Realtor in Atlanta and her blog is always filled with fantastic information. One of my [...]

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  • Grace Bags, imagine! Once again you have an idea which is gracious and giving, a wonderful idea which will benefit many less fortunate.
  • Hey Kathy,
    That’s awesome! My favorite ideas are the ones I steal from someone else! I think I’ll “borrow” the Grace Bag idea.
    Be blessed!
    Matt

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  • I like what you are doing. Sharing with others less fortunate is so important. Providing them with the social services resource card is a good idea and might help get them on the right tract. One can only hope those in need are aware of the services.
  • Speaking of empty food banks… we are having that issue here too. When I heard about it I just phoned the local food bank director and told her that I would round up a bunch of colleagues and we would take shifts standing out in front of a market on a Saturday and ask people to buy some extra food and drop it off on their way out. It was a great success. We collected over 800 pounds of food and about $350.

    I don’t get passionate about that much these days but I don’t think it is acceptable for a single mom in America to have to choose between putting gas in her car to get to work and feeding her kids.

    I guess I’m on the box with you Lou :)
  • We participate in a program called One Warm Coat…yesterday we collected 227 coats. The need is always great, but this year it is enormous…the contributions are down and the food banks are empty.

    Those most likely to give are those who have experienced hardship in their own lives, at some point, and remember…what it’s like. And they are usually the ones who can afford it the least.

    It’s not to late…don’t make it complicated…figure out one thing you can do and just do it…and it doesn’t necessarily involve $$$…although that always helps. If you honestly think we’ve got it tough…open your eyes my friends…and this year, you don’t have to look very far.

    Sorry, I’ll get off my box…

    Go Kathy!
  • Kathy, I really like your idea. Maybe one of those really thin rain ponchos, they are really small and are generally folked and are about the size of a deck of cards
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