Shouting Gratitude

IMG_1394Toward the end of October, I decided to try something I ultimately called 30 Days of Gratitude for the month of November.  My goal is to post 3 positive things every day.  So far, it’s been pretty easy, though I know some days will be harder than others.  I just wanted to do something positive because there’s a lot of negativity out there.

A friend and fellow blogger (Be Nice and Follow the Rules) is also doing 30 days of gratitude.  It’s not a new idea for her.  She usually posts what she’s grateful for each day in November.  Her most recent blog talked about how some people are receiving it negatively, as if calling attention to gratitude in November makes people hypocritical.

I was a little surprised at first, then not as surprised as I wanted to be.  The fact is that none of us exist in a static state.  We’re meant to change constantly, because if we’re not growing and changing, we’re decaying and dying.  I don’t mean that negatively.  I just can’t be grateful every minute of every day.  Nor can I be happy.  Or sad.  Or angry.  We’re not meant to exist too long in one state.

Should I be grateful for what I have every day?  Yes, of course.  And most of the time I am, in a quiet, personal way.  I don’t make posts about gratitude.  But sometimes it’s a good thing to call attention to something.  It doesn’t mean I’m not grateful other times.  Mostly it just means I don’t want to blow up my Facebook feed with something that mostly belongs in my journal.

So… what do you think?  Is having a month where people call attention to gratitude a good thing or a bit hypocritical?