It's hard to believe that it's been a whole year since my first 30 Days of Thanks, but it has. And the journey that started out as being something I thought would be fun for a month has turned into its own movement--each month a different theme, a different opportunity to learn, grow, share, and become much more than I was before.
And it all began with the first thing for which I gave thanks--which was love.
And really, that's what all the 30 Day Projects are about--love. Love for self, love for others, loving freely and deeply and the magic that comes from that.
And so I'm delighted to be doing this theme for the second time and hope you'll join me.
Welcome to 30 Days of Thanks!
Here's how to play
1. First and foremost, get that this is about giving thanks, and if moved to, sharing what you're thankful for with others. The goal is to consciously engage in (at least) one moment of thankfulness every day this month. That's it.
2. The thing for which you give thanks can be big or small--it doesn't matter, because even 30 small gratitudes will add up to something awesome by month's end. Not sure what to be thankful for? Check out the list of some of what people told us they were thankful for when we did this theme last year!
What you're thankful for can be anything at all--as long as you're consciously thankful for it. That's the key.
3. Truly, being thankful is enough. Sharing it via social media or in some other way is a gift to the world, because there are so very many people (we bet you know a lot of them!) who really struggle with giving thanks for the things that they have, or the people or events in their lives. Modeling being thankful is a way to gift them because as you share what you're thankful for, you shine a light--a light that tells others that it's ok for them to be thankful, too.
4. If you decide you want to share what you're thankful for, you might simply say it aloud, or you might choose to write it on paper, blog about it, share it with those you love over dinner, draw something, or even sing it. As with other 30 Day Projects, there's simply no wrong way to do this. Just make the way you do it your own--as unique and special as you are!
Don't have a blog? That's ok--thankfulness doesn't only come to those who blog! You can still play by writing in a journal, on napkins at lunch (think how cool it would be to have 30 napkins at the end of the month you could create an album with, or frame!), or on anything at all. It's about the practice, and the every day consistency.
And if you want to do this on a blog but don't currently have one, you can always set one up quickly and easily with services like Vox, Wordpress, Typepad, and Blogger. Maybe this can be the inspiration that will get you started!
Want something more simple, but online? Consider Posterous or Tumblr, or posting a note to your Facebook page. Tweeting would be a grand way to share your thankfulness (add the hashtag #30days to your tweets so we can track them and see them!)
5. If you're going to share online, grab the graphic and put it on your blog, or wherever you're sharing itin your sidebar. Link to us (this is an important part!) so other people can find out about 30 Days of Thanks and join in the fun. (Need help with this? There's a tab at the top of this screen about it. Please don't link to the graphic here. It won't show up on your blog well if you do.
6. Email us when you begin (30daysofthanks at gmail dot com). Tell us the name of your blog, and the URL, and we’ll add to the list of other fabulous people playing along. That way, site visitors and other thankful people can visit your blog and get a heaping helping of your thankfulness. Using another online tool? Let us know how to find your posts. And if you're doing this offline, we'd still love to hear from you about what you're doing (maybe with a pic or two we can share!).
If you're playing on Facebook or Twitter, let us know that as well, along with your username on Twitter, or your Facebook URL if you're interested in more friends and followers who are like-minded. Even if we know you, please don't assume we know this info--it just slows us down. In the absence of a Twitter username, etc., we'll list your name as someone joining this month (as if you were not posting online)
7. Spread the gratitude if you feel moved to (we'd really appreciate it!). Tweet about this with a link to us. Write about it on FB (and import your blog to your profile if you already don’t!) so that your FB friends can read what you're thankful for (the ripple effect of this is enormously yummy).
8. Visit the blogs of other thankful people (the list is below). Leave comments for them. Start/build some new relationships with like-minded folks.If they're using Facebook or Twitter consider friending them and following them. Relationships are juicy, and there's a lot to be thankful for in them!
9. Notice if anything changes for you this month…and let us know about it. We very much believe that focusing on goodness brings more goodness. We’d like to see what happens for you!
Blogs Where You'll Find 30 Days of Thanks Entries:
People playing via Facebook/Twitter:
- Tess Alipour (F)
- Heather Hinson
- Jane Murphy (T)
- Bettina Fernandez (F)
- Antonette Artiz (F)
- Rob Henry (F)
- Gina Brooks-Victory (F)
- Terri Piper (F)
- Katherine Peter (F)
- Pam Scott (F)
- Laura England (F)
- Mary Elaine Prill (F)
- Katherine Rothgeb (F)
- Jen Tanner (F)
- Beatrice Ten-Thye (F)
- Jack Myer (F)
- Deborah Mitchell (F)
- Julie Seguira (F)
- Betty Gonzalez (F)
- Donna Amos (F)
- Kim Dushinski (F)
- Robyn Talbott (F)
- Kelly Morrison (F)
People playing offline:
- Ray Armand
- Susan Shike
- Laura Greenlee
- Frank George
- Pam Tawse
- Beth Rodgers
- Amelia Henry
- Amanda Grace
- Kate Poursek
- Ramona Figuroa
- Regina Pokarney
- Susan Kiser
- Krista Kane Smith
- Lisa George
- Nadja Crouther
- Leanne Johnson
- Chris Brown
- Paula Krischel
- NiYa Costley
- Amy Yarger
- Wending Morrow-Kelly
- Karen Hurley
- Jessica Mcree
- Tina Carmichael
- Erin O'Donnell
- Angela Schoeck
- Lynne Williams
- Kristen Lorincz
- Kathryn Goldberg
- Tami Dwenger
- Sylvia Myers
- Denise Morales
- Monique Cunningham
- Alex Johns
- Todd Jordan
- Tori Marriner
- Laurel Reisen
- Jen Tanner
- Lynne Leslie
- Ed Levy
- Sandy Wiles
- Kat Turek-Said
- Lisa England
- Cortney Hicks
- Erin Pakowski
- Kimberly Patchell-Pruett
- Nicole Lewis
- Kelly Myers
- Raquel McDavid
- Sheila O'Meara
- Karyn Hill
- Ifetayo White
- Janine Miller
- Sian Kolozvary
- Karen Gronberg
- Sharon Davis
- David Goldsmith
- Victoria Hammer
- Alicia Moore
- Sharon Day
- Kena Roth
- Erin Wentworth
- Connie Wood
- Amy Sittford
- Lucinda Sternke
- Jessica Skorup
- Amy Gantzer
