Day 15: Gratitude

"Gratitude is the absolute way to bring more into your life" - unknown

30 Days to a Better Man: Day 5 Cultivate Your Gratitude

I've been slacking a little bit on the 30 Days to a Better Man challenge. Today is Monday, so I'm putting myself back on track today, and going to complete it. Today the challenge is to Cultivate Your Gratitude. Showing your gratitude and appreciate are very important in life, in many ways. Showing your appreciation to in your friendships, relationships, family, and career; will help a long ways.

Negativity, and not showing appreciation for others, is rude, ungrateful and arrogant. As a boss, you should show appreciation to your employees, it helps with work morale. No one wants their employees to hate their employer, and the work they do. As a friend, you should show appreciation, to your friends. As a son, brother, and uncle, I should show appreciation to all of my family, who's always been there for me; even when I wasn't worthy. You should show appreciation, and be thankful for all the things, and people in your life.

I know I'm often ungrateful, and I take people and things for granted. Someone does something really nice out of no where for me, and I can barely say thank you. Sometimes it's because I'm nervous, and embarrassed, but it's still rude. I need to always make sure, that I show people how much I appreciate what they've done for me, even in the little things. I am very grateful for the people that have been in my life, and that are still in my life. I appreciate the things they do for me, and that they care about me. I need to make sure that I always be sure that they know this, with my actions, and behaviors towards them. They need to know that I always appreciate them.

Here's ten things I'm grateful for:

1. My Parents. They've both always been there for me, no matter what, even when I definitely deserved a good swift kick to the head and tough love, they always showed me unconditional love.
2. Her, while we are not together anymore, I am very grateful that she came in to my life, and that she still talks to me. She is an amazing person, and she means the world to me. She is my best friend, and she always knows just what to say or do to make me smile. I know she cares about me more than I know. Even when I've been a jerk, or done something completely ridiculous, she's still been there for me. She has an ability to let things go, that I admire. Her smile rivets me.
3. Her family. They've always been very, very nice to me; even when I've been rude, or embarrassing.
4. My brother. While him and I haven't always got a long, or seen eye to eye; he's always been there for me when I needed him.
5. My sister. While we're not as close as we were when we were kids; she's always been there for me when I needed her, and gives great advice about things. She's always shown me unconditional love too.
6. Our dog, that I have with her. She's adorable, and ton of fun to spend time with. She's always full of energy, and always brings a smile to my face.
7. My job. While I hate my job, because of the low pay, and the system of how my job works. I am still thankful that I have a job. Michigan's economy sucks, and the unemployment rate is sky high, but I still have a job.
8. My apartment. While it is small, and quaint, and sometimes my cable is shut off, and I get bored sitting in it; I am thankful that I have it. It is a decent apartment, with good neighbors, and it suits it purpose.
9. My friend N, that lives near me, that hangs out with me sometimes. He's a good guy, have known him my whole life, and we always have a lot of fun when we hang out; even if it's months between, it's like we've never stopped talking.
10. My friend J, while we don't see each other often, because our lives are busy; he's a great guy, and we always have a lot of fun when we get together.

From now on, I'm going to make sure people know I appreciate them, and that I am grateful for all that they do for me. Even just having them as part of my life is something for me to be thankful for.

Be more positive, and always be sure to show my appreciation.