Not everything small must stay that way (Photo: loop oh)
Two Thanksgivings ago as you know, I embarked on a massive challenge, something I’d never done before. I decided to create a humongous list of reasons I was thankful. Looking back, ’twas one of the best things I did that year. Seriously.
So I thought I’d spread the challenge again. This will increase your thankfulness. The hardest part is committing to do it. You’ll reach a point where you can’t go on – perhaps around 20, perhaps around 200 – but you’re not fooling anyone. You can make it to the end. Commit to it ahead of time.
1. Find a notebook or a couple pieces of paper.
2. Find a pen.
3. Create some time for yourself (even five minutes is a fantastic place to start).
4. Find some quiet space (sometimes more difficult that it sounds, right?).
5. Write down “1.”
6. Write one reason you’re thankful beside that 1.
7. Move down and write “2.”
8. Again, write one reason you’re thankful.
9. Repeat steps 4-7 but increase the numbers each time.
10. Keep repeating until you reach 1,000.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” -Psalm 100:4
Serving Suggestions:
(1) Start your list.
(2) Finish your list.
(3) Spread it. Tell everyone why you’re thankful. Show them your list. Tweet it. Post it on facebook or your blog. Hang it on your refrigerator. Live a thankful life.
Twitter Updates
Good idea.
Did you really come up with 1,000 things? Are you planning on going futher than that?
hahaha Yes, I really did. I wanted to go further… the hardest part for me (after you 1,000, you start to get the hang of it) is repeating myself. It’s painstaking to have to go back through 1,000+ entries to see if I’ve already mentioned something.
Perhaps I’ll do another list… but not worry about repeating myself. I do smaller lists all the time, though, and they seem to help me refocus. I’ve heard the cliche of counting blessing so many times, but as far as I know, no one had done 1,000. Most stop after 20. But for me, the real benefits and realizations started to come after at least 500.
So overall, I have a heard time convincing anyone to take me up on this challenge… but if they do, the results are awesome.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Well if you think of one thing every day that’s 365 (or 366 for a leap year). So I guess it is possible, even if it takes a while. I’m trying to do a 101 Things In 1001 Days list but I’m having trouble coming up with stuff.
Yeah, I’ve heard about that. I think I actually found a blog through googling that once. Can you tell me more about it, though – I don’t remember?
-Marshall Jones Jr.
I thought it was just something bloggers did like a #100 things for your 100th post but there is a website.
http://www.dayzeroproject.com/
I’m just going to blog it. I haven’t picked a start date yet, which is probably a good thing since I don’t have an actual list
Wow, that’s pretty cool. I’d not heard about it. I didn’t do anything special here for my 100th post. I guess I’m not hanging with all the cool kids… er, bloggers.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
What an inspiring idea…..I may just have to make a list myself.:)
Definitely! Actually, if you do and post it somewhere online, send me a link, and I’ll link it up (if you want). Sharing it’s part of the fun… perhaps get some more people to join the fun.
-Marshall Jones Jr.