Thankful Tree

I think some people are naturally more optimist than others. Some are naturally more grateful. Some naturally lean that way and others tend to see the  negative.

 

I think it's just a personality trait. I am constantly seeing the issues, the problems, the down sides ... I think that most planners and organizers do. It actually works as a positive in my job. I anticipate issues and think of things that might go wrong and make a Plan "B" along with my Plan "A".  I can't tell  you how many times it's saved me from extra work or an embarrassing disaster.

 

Seeing the issues and problems can quickly turn to negativity in my real life though.  I tend to see the faults, the failures, the mistakes, the things I don't have. I see easily the things I wanted that I didn't get. I see the bad choices.  I see the struggles.

 

So when I saw this idea on Pinterest (from this site). I fell in love with the idea immediately. A Thankful Tree! I suppose it's more of a November "Thanksgiving" idea, but I wanted to do it now and leave it up through the end of November. 

 

Hers is small and coordinated and darling.  But I didn't want to go out and buy anything to make it, so I gathered up scraps of orange, yellow and brown paper, an old vase, used photos I had duplicates of, and  some paper ribbon and made my own tree from braches in the  back yard. A big tree. A giant reminder to me when I see it every day. In the  morning when I'm getting ready and at night when I'm winding down. I have so much to be thankful for.  I have so many blessings.  Despite the issues, troubles, failures and bad decisions I have made, God has weaved together a lot of good and I need to spend time being grateful for that.   

 

(I may work on a smaller one like in the blog for the living room or dining room to put out in November, but this one is perfect for my downstairs office.)

 

 

Something to think about for the upcoming Thanksgiving season ... You could do a bowl, a jar, a centerpiece, a push pin board, just about anything. If you are like me and need a visual reminder at times of all the things to be grateful for, this is a nice idea.