Being Thankful

Many of my friends (myself and my partner included) are posting a status update on Facebook reflecting what we're thankful for each day this month.  If you haven't already started, I suggest all my ADHD readers do the same.  You don't have to post on Facebook, but write down every day something for which you are thankful or grateful.

Why?  There are several reasons to do this, but as I've muddled through this month, two particular reasons jump out at me. 

First off, many of us have difficulty expressing thanks or gratitude to people.  We ARE thankful for others' help, support and involvement in our lives, but often, we simply forget to show our thanks.  We assume that because we FEEL grateful, that our friends and family will just understand and realize this fact.  We tend to struggle with this expectation of osmosis...we just don't understand why the other person didn't hear our thanks...we don't even realize that we didn't actually ARTICULATE it!  This is something I struggle with.  I am SO grateful to my support system...I just don't show it often enough.  It's not a matter of thoughtlessness or bad attitude, but other people don't necessarily see it this way.  Someone not used to interacting with an ADHD person may feel used, forgotten, or taken for granted.  In order to maintain good relationships with our friends, family and coworkers, we need to get in the habit of showing them that we care.  Simply saying "thank you" is often enough, but at times, we need to go a little further.  A card, a small gift...or a big gift if the occasion calls for it.  If you take a minute each day to consider something for which you're grateful, you'll be more inclined to remember to say "hey thanks" to someone that deserves it.  Again, you'll still forget, and you'll still "do it wrong", but this is a good way to get on a better path towards showing appropriate gratitiude.

Another good reason to keep track of things that make you feel gratitude is the maintenance of a positive attitude.  Many of us have difficulty staying positive due to a history of emotional abuse, trouble adjusting to our diagnosis, or simply frustration with our past actions.  If we can focus, just for a few minutes each day, on something that makes us happy, we can work on cultivating a more positive outlook.  Every day, we need to find a small (or big) reason to work out our issues, to try to cultivate the best possible habits, and to give ourselves motivation to achieve our goals.  When we get in the habit of thanking people and thinking about the good things in our lives (no matter how small), we'll see that positive attitude leaking into all aspects of our consciousness.  This is a very easy habit to cultivate...we simply choose to be happy!

So sit down with your notebook or Facebook app and get to work.  Articulate at least one thing each day for which you're thankful.  If it involves a person in your circle, call them, text them or give them a hug to show you're thankful.  You'll feel great about it and you'll probably make THAT person's day too!