Added Value Day 2: Book recommendations

   

     Are you looking for some help in figuring out all this minimalism and living a simple life? Here's a few books I recommend, and why:

1. Everything that Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

I love this book because of the way it's written. The authors take you through their journeys (which were very different) that brought them to minimalism. As you read through the tragedies in Joshua's life, he writes with such emotion that it pulls you in, you feel what he's going through. When you read how Ryan got started, you realize that you are affecting those around you in a positive way as you grow and change. It's a quick read, great for a weekend.

2.  Minimalism: A Minimalist's Guide to Eliminate Clutter, Clear the Mind, and Increase Productivity by Paul Silverman

This is an ebook that I got on Amazon (free at the time as were most of these recommendations of ebooks). I liked this because I read it in about an hour or two amid distractions. It helped with practical decluttering tips, but also how that brings about the peace of mind I was seeking. The productivity part is about how you don't waste time on the unimportant so you free up time to pursue your passions.

3.  Capsule Wardrobe: 10 simple & easy steps to declutter your life of endless shopping and find the personal style everyday with a minimalist wardrobe by Hannah Hannigan

Although this ebook title is a mouthful, the book is nowhere near as long-winded. It gives step by step advice on how to pare down your wardrobe to mix and match essentials and accessories to you can own far less items, yet continue to have many options of outfits by simply mixing and matching things that already go together. It will save you so much time in the morning because you don't have to worry about what looks good together, you don't have anything in your closet that doesn't fit or look good on you, and you won't waste time getting changed over and over. Great time-saver tips.

4.  Discover Minimalism: A Minimalist Budget: Finding Freedom Through Saving Money and Spending Less by Adrian Pepperdine

I breezed through this book rather quickly because it was all straight to the point, good advice, and they're ideas that work, no matter where you're starting from. Part of living a more simple life will involve not carrying lots of anxiety producing debt. Again it's an ebook that you can read in an hour or so.

5.  Clutterfree with Kids by Joshua Becker

This is one of Joshua's 3 books advertised on his website. Although I haven't read all of them yet, I know this one is a great one for people wondering if minimalism is possible when you have kids. Joshua also has great essays and articles on this subject, and the book will help you realize that yes, you can live a minimalist, more simple lifestyle even if you have kids. He doesn't live in a tiny home, he doesn't make his family only own a certain number of possessions, but he does explain how to allow everyone in your family to be who they are and still create a happier, more simple life through minimalism principles.

     I hope these books will be helpful for you. You may also find other FREE ebooks available on Kindle or Amazon on these topics. I go in and check every month or so for new ones, download them to my tablet, and they I can carry multiple books with me when I'm headed somewhere I know I'll either have down time or need to stay busy while I'm in a waiting room.

     I hope these add value to you as they have to me and many, many others. Enjoy your long weekend if you're in the U.S.

Added Value Day 1

   

Welcome to September! Get ready to see pumpkin flavored everything wherever you go. This month I will try to post almost every day, working around a trip out of the country, a wedding, and relocating family from FL. My posts in September will be what I heard the Minimalists call "added value". It's things they share that add value to their lives. It may or may not add value to yours, but they share it in case it does. That's my goal. To bring you things that will help you.

     Today I watched a young woman take on a one week challenge to live like a minimalist. It's about 8 minutes long but moves along quickly and it's done very well. She stumbled a bit because like many people, she was under the impression it meant remove almost everything from her life, trying to keep a minimal number of possessions at her disposal. She ends up keeping too few clothes for the week, getting rid of makeup because she said it's not essential. What she does find however is that she enjoys living with less clutter, stuff she didn't even remember she had. She was shocked by how much stuff she had just in her one room. Also, she learned to save time getting ready in the morning, felt more relaxed coming home to less clutter, and she meets someone who teaches her that minimalism still includes things that add value, hold meaning, and bring joy.

     Enjoy the video, and remember, what you keep or toss is totally up to you, it looks different for everyone, and it has nothing to do with the number of items you own.  It's about bringing joy and peace, living a more simple life with more freedom, and letting go of the unimportant. Click on the link below to watch - Enjoy!

1 week experiment with being a minimalist

Evaluating the Aug. 30-Day Living Simply Challenge

   

     What a great month August has been. We've covered topics from how to spend you time to decluttering your home and food/diet. We talked about gossiping, donating, comfort zones, and busyness. Here are the top 3 Topics that people read:

1.  The Matrix - If you missed this one, is was Aug. 24, it was about not being fooled by the fake economy advertising, marketing, and culture portrays as real - wake up to their tricks and don't be fooled!

2.  Giving Back - this was published Aug. 26, and in light of Hurricane Harvey, if ever there was a time to donate it's now. People need everything. They've lost their homes and along with it, their clothes, beds, appliances, electronics they needed for school/business/work, and so much more.

3.  This was a tie between Decluttering your Food (going through your home and getting out all the junk that's making you sick, unhealthy, and tired) and the post on Handling Stress. Who couldn't use that info? or just a refresher?

     In the last 30 days I really do find that I am beginning to live a more simple life. I make intentional decisions. I say no to things that would make me ineffective in the prioritized, more important areas. That allows me to say yes, and to focus on what's most important, not just what's urgent. I find that by being single-focused on tasks (instead of my old habits of multi-tasking, which I was very good at), I am doing a better job at those important tasks. I find I'm having better relationships with family, friends, and those in my circle at church and school. I'm becoming a better listener - one of the most important things I can learn to do since I'm studying to be a counselor. I also find in areas that used to be very stressful, my new go-to habit is to let it go if it's not important long-term. So much is out of our control anyway. Being stressed over the car that cut me off, or having to pick up after others who didn't do their job or handle what was their responsibility. I still have that instantaneous moment and may let out a quick huff, but in about 5-10 seconds, it's over. I don't let it affect the next person I talk to or next task I handle. I find coming home to a decluttered house is a source of almost immediate release. I walk in and don't feel like things are closing in on me. The space and neatness of the house reflects my mindset, and in the last month, I'm much more at peace than ever before. I have finally learned to rest, not just sit down with my mind racing or emotions pushing to the surface. I don't get overwhelmed by hardly anything these days.

     My hope is that through the posts of the last 2 months of daily challenges, you too will find peace, rest, harmony, your passion, and you will learn to manage and even let go of most stress and anxiety, grow in areas you pursue, and will be able to live a more simple life every single day, regardless of what goes on around you. It's like finding that calm in the eye of a storm. You can't avoid the storms of life but you can learn to rise above them and navigate through them.

     For September, I will be handling topics relating to Minimalism and Living Simply, recommending articles, essays, websites, documentaries, YouTube videos, and more on the subject. It will be a busy month for me since we're moving my mom and brother in with us from Florida, finally taking that 11 day trip for our 25th Anniversary, and our son is getting married - yes, all in the same month, and in fact, all in the same  18 days! I will be online during vacation since I have college classes to keep up with, so I will continue to post on here, so keep coming back for information how to improve your life. Just be patient if a miss a few days for flying, the wedding, bad internet connection, etc. I would love to come up with another 30 day challenge for October. If you have ideas on some you'd like to see - please - comment back what you'd like to see!

     On one final note, here's our stats here on the blog for the past month:

• Over 1145 views in the last 30 days
• 10 different countries reached: United States, Canada, France, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom
• People are being reached through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus (although I don't really even know how that one works - how do I find others in that group that I can connect with?) 

     Have a fantastic rest of the week. Looking forward to hearing how your life became better through the concepts of minimalism and living simply. Please feel free to recommend other sites or people you've found with helpful information on these subjects too. It's not a competition, it's a message most of us minimalists are trying to get out to everyone in a shared space.

Living Simply challenge Day 30: Begin with the End in Mind

   

     Where do you want to be this time next year? What about 3 years from now? 5? 10? How do you suppose you're going to get there? Most people go through life assuming things will somehow just work out, then wake up one day to find they've spent half their life already and aren't much further than they were when they started - or worse, they've fallen behind where they were a decade ago because now they've tripled the amount of debt they carry and their health is paying the price from all the stress. So what can you do TODAY so you end up where you want to be in the future? It's called, according to Dr. Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, "Begin with the End in Mind".

     If your goal is to be out of debt in 5 years, you need a plan today to get there. Start with selling everything you don't need, all those extra electronics, collectibles, bicycles or sports gear you never use anymore, old movies and music, televisions, even clothes can be sold on websites like Poshmark.
You could have multiple yard/garage sales, sell online, post on Craig's List, or even sell stuff to friends, family and coworkers. Use that money to pay off whatever is your smallest balance. Then use the money you used to pay on that balance and apply it on top of what you pay monthly to the next lowest balance. For example, let's say you had a clothing store credit card with $700 of debt you owe. From selling your items you make $700 so you pay it off. Now the $80/month you used to send to the clothing store, you add to say, your Visa payment, now, paying down the balance by an extra $80/month. In just one year, that's an extra $960/yr coming off what you owe. You also could pick up a part-time job or if you're creative, make DIY stuff and sell it at a Farmer's Market and apply that to your debt too.

     If your goal is to buy a car in another 2 years, you need to start saving now. You can do the same steps as above but put aside an amount each week or month in a separate account for a car. If you could manage some kind of side job that gave you $500/month extra, in a year you would have $6000 to buy a used car with no car payment - then use what you used to spend on your car payment to pay off other debt.

     If your goal is to become a writer in 5 years, you could start today by learning about the writing process through books, online classes, physical classes, even local libraries usually have authors and classes that help inspiring writers get started.

     If you wanted to plan for a trip to Europe in 2 years, you could start today by saving for it on a regular, planned schedule, with set amounts to get you there. You also could begin the research of the best places to stay, things to do, etc. hunting for great destinations but figuring out the least expensive ones or which season is priced the lowest.

     What if it's to go back and finish your education? Start today filling out the necessary forms, applications, essays, financial aid forms or scholarship entries, and figuring out what you need to get the degree you want - but make sure you give it serious thought so you know WHY you're taking those classes. Have a plan for the type of job or business you want from it. Don't sign up with no idea what major you want. If you don't want anything, why pay thousands of dollars for it?

     Maybe it's to finally settle down, have kids, and be home to care for them. Start now putting money away, paying down debt, downsizing if it saves you money in the long run. A 3 bedroom home is plenty for a family of 4-5 people. Don't believe the tv shows that try to convince you a couple with no kids needs a 5 bedroom house and 3500 square feet! Prioritize. We spent 7 years in a 1000 sf, 3 bedroom home, with our family of 5 because our priorities were for me to stay home to raise my kids and educate them. It was more important than working 2 or 3 jobs, living in a house too big to take care of with an enormous mortgage payment, just so the "impressive" house sat empty since everyone worked, was in school, daycare, and after school activities. We raised our kids to be good, healthy, productive members of society with values and morals, a heart to support those that need help, and a true sense of right and wrong. I'm not saying that isn't possible any other way, but I'm saying that our sacrifices were worth it many times over considering the results we got. We began with the end in mind and did what was necessary along the way to obtain those results.

     As you can see, having a direction to head, or a plan if you're a planner person, is how you get where you want to be. Not by spinning your wheels day after day. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing day after day and expecting different results. Figure out what you want and how you can get there.

     If living a more simple life is your destination, then start simplifying today. You can go back and read (or re-read) my daily challenges in July and August taking baby steps today that will, over time, turn into life changing habits to get you there. All it takes is a single, intentional step.


   

Living Simply challenge Day 29: Busyness

      Where did we get the idea that multitasking was the only way to go? Why do we value busyness? How well do we think we're doing anything when we're all over the place? Would others think we're doing as good a job as we think we're doing? Would those who are closest to us say they love being around us as we multitask? Is it really getting you closer to the things you say are your core values? your passions? Or is it all an illusion created by industry to get the most out of us so they can grab the most for themselves?

     You've worked all day, multitasking to please your boss, or to "get ahead" - ahead of whom? Who is really your competition? Anyway, you get home, walk into the house, and waiting for you is your beloved family who's missed you all day. They haven't seen nor spoken to you, and the children are so happy to finally get to talk to and play with you that they can't contain it as they hop up and down in excited anticipation. Your spouse comes to also greet you as you walk in the door because you've been missed all day long. What a wonderful feeling to come home to, right? Being missed, loved, appreciated, and wanted? Except that it doesn't play out this way for most families, unfortunately. Instead it's something like this:

     Mom has also been working all day, plus she had to stop at the market on the way home, has been on the phone to the utility, phone, or insurance company while she had to drop off, watch, and pick the kids up from soccer practice. No time to make dinner, plus she's exhausted - someone called in sick today so she had to do her own job plus cover their's. Just a drive thru meal tonight for everyone...again. If she's lucky she'll make it home in time for the kids to take their finger foods to their room and get homework done before bed.

     The kids are doing just as bad. They have to get up so early to catch the bus, then a full 7 hour day at school, after school clubs and practices, then sports around 4:00. After running around doing sports drills for an hour, they're ready to fall asleep in the car, but bedtime isn't for another 3 or 4 hours. They're so tired of fast food. It all looks and tastes the same and leaves them feeling so unsatisfied, but they understand where Mom's coming from today (and every afternoon). They still have homework to do when they get home:  studying, answering questions, a take home quiz, spelling words to write multiple times for the test tomorrow, and then there's that science project that's due soon, if only they had time to start it!

     Dad walks in but he's distracted because he's on the phone. He's getting chewed out by his boss because, though no fault of his, the big client is about to switch to another competitor's company and losing that account will mean no bonuses, so he "better do something about it quick".  The car's making that weird noise again, so while he's on the phone, his mind is somewhere else tracing the car's systems to figure out an educated guess what the problem is. When will he have time to leave the car at the garage for a day or two? So much to do! By the way, he noticed on the way in that the grass and yard are looking messy again. There's always leaves to rake, kids' toys that weren't picked up, trash blown into the yard from the neighbor's house. And he thinks, "As soon as I'm done, I'm going to sit in front of the TV with a cold beer, eating whatever food the wife picked up on her way home, and just "veg out" for the next 4 hours trying to forget about my day. I don't want to talk to anyone or hear about anyone else's day.

     Isn't this the American dream? To have the spouse, nice house, new car, 2 kids, etc? If you asked the members of this family what's important to them, what would they say? I bet many, if not most, would say "family", but is it? Where's the evidence of it? No one is talking to each other. No one is making time to foster a better relationship with one another. Their time is spent everywhere but together."But families do need at least one good-paying if not two jobs to survive, so what can be done differently!?"  Here's another scenario:

     The final bell rings and the kids are excited to go to their one after-school activity. More than that would take too much time away from homework, family, rest, friends, and the more important things in life. Because they only get one activity after school, they really had to think hard about which to choose, weighing their options until they knew where to focus their time and energy. It's so convenient because they don't need a ride to get there, and they can leave all their stuff in a locker until it's time to go home instead of all over the car, the dance studio, the soccer field, etc.

     Mom leaves work to pick up the kids around 4:00. She's so glad they decided to cut back on excessive, impulse shopping so that they could live and thrive well on a 30 hour job for her instead of the 40 hours she used to work. Now she has time to talk with the kids about their day, cook a healthy meal for her family, she loves cooking. They can plan an after dinner family activity together with the input of the kids' ideas. Mom's not over-stressed or exhausted. She's happier and more relaxed these days.

     Dad gets home shortly after Mom and the kids. He's so much more fun to be around since he quit the high stress job for one that pays enough for a comfortable lifestyle. Downsizing from a 3000 square foot home to a 1600 square foot one meant plenty of leftover money each month for doing things together, even a vacation that they never had before, even though Dad made more money than now. No stress over the car anymore. They sold the expensive one and bought a more mid-size sedan that has no car payments. There's time to relax because with a smaller home and less hours spent in busyness, everyone pitched in Saturday and got all the yard work knocked out in just a couple of hours. The phone never rings at home like it used to, no more late calls from the boss about some problem. Work gets left at the office and home time truly is time to gather together as a family.

     After a healthy dinner, there's time for Mom and Dad to spend time with the kids. They play a friendly game of volleyball in the back yard, then go for a walk as dusk settles in. The kids, now in a more peaceful state after the relaxing family walk, talking over everyone's day, making plans for the future together, can go upstairs and work on homework. Fortunately, since they didn't have to rush off to a second or third activity, they were able to stay at school and work on part of their homework before their activity started, so there's not much left to do. Mom and Dad are on hand to help out so the kids can get to bed earlier and be fully rested for tomorrow.

     Once the kids are in bed, Mom and Dad have a chance to sit together on the sofa and watch one little show they recorded to watch on their time. It's a good show with lots of great lessons - nothing upsetting or stressful before bedtime. Afterwards, they head off to bed together, holding hands, thankful for the more simple life they lead, and they think, "We made just a few changes, but they were enough to totally change our life from one we hated to one we love." They built the life they always wanted - and I think THAT is the American dream. Which will YOU choose?

Living Simply challenge Day 28: Little Decisions

   

So all month we have journeyed together through making intentional baby steps towards living a more simple life. Just 3 more days left, then a day of evaluating on the 31st. Today's challenge is again, some baby steps to simplify and make your life your own - a more simple life.

1.  Try waking up a little earlier than usual so you have time to stretch, exercise, have a relaxing cup of coffee or tea before heading out the door, reading, spending time in your bible or praying, plan your day, etc. Use it wisely and intentionally.

2.  Let go of the little stuff that doesn't matter: the car that cut you off, or the person in your "15 items or less" line at the grocery store with 22 items in their cart - you know that because you silently counted them from where you were.

3.  Stop your cable if it's a huge time waster in your life. You can have wifi without television, and still you have options like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc. when you intentionally plan to sit and watch a movie.

4.  Decide to drive past the store and don't shop on impulse. It's not "something to do".  It's a waste of money and time.

5.  Eat simple, healthy foods whenever possible. Eating junk food will only zap your energy until you're exhausted, make you feel heavy from all the grease, and make you bloated from the sugars, chemicals, and gluten.

6.  Intentionally make time for things that add value to your life or bring you joy - like getting out into nature for a bit, making time to play with your kids, planning a date night, making plans to go be with friends (maybe for a game night to save money).

7.  Say no to things that you really don't want to do. Agreeing to do something you hate, then resenting it, and remembering it when you're with the person you said yes to - that's not the way to live a simple life. By saying no to things, you'll be able to say yes to what's most important to you.

8.  Minimize distractions. Give yourself time with your notifications off, even if it's just at night, or for a half hour during the day. Keep extra television, radio, and other noise off if it's just background noise and something you're not intentionally choosing to do.

9.  Read books, don't just collect them. I love books, but unread books gathering as clutter just adds more stress and pressure to your life. Read one, then donate it or pass it on. Get them from the library or download free ebooks before you end up paying retail for them.

10.  Give your attention to those you love, not strangers on the internet. Your time is precious but not just to you. It's precious to those who love and miss you. Shut out social media in favor of building and enhancing quality relationships with those that mean the most to you. An hour commenting and arguing with people on social media is so wasteful when you figure what that hour could mean to a mom in a nursing home, a child who doesn't get to see you enough, that friend you know needs you, the neighbor you know needs help with something, that spouse who misses you, or calling that distant friend or relative you know you think about and miss all the time.

Be proactive. Be intentional. Prioritize. And all of these things can be little, incremental baby steps to take you from where you are now to the more simple life you seek.

Living Simply challenge Day 27: Thankfulness

   

Thankfulness - a noun meaning gratitude or appreciation. Are you a person who is thankful? Do you truly appreciate what you have or where you're at? Are you grateful for the people, things, opportunities and gifts in your life? If not, today's challenge is to begin with a baby step, a step towards becoming thankful for who you are, where you're at, what you have, those around you, and for what obstacles, challenges, and bad things you do NOT have.

Here's a few things to start with:

1. People - this will look different for everyone, but hopefully there is someone in your world that you can be thankful for because they're there for you. Do you have someone to discuss things with, bounce ideas off of, or they encourage you when you need it? If not, it's time to get out and meet a few people with common interests until you can identify someone like this. For the rest of us, maybe you have a spouse or partner, parent, sibling, adult child, cousin, aunt/uncle, grandparent, mentor, coach, pastor or priest, teacher, adviser, counselor, neighbor, friend, boss, or coworker. Take time to be thankful for the person(s) who is there for you. Maybe even figure out a small way to let them know you don't take them for granted - buy them a cup of coffee, invite them over, do something with them, write them a note just to say thank you...

2.  Favors - Has someone gone out of their way to do something nice for you? Did someone help you accomplish something you couldn't do, or do on time, without their help? Has someone done something to save you time or money? Rearrange their plans to accommodate you? If so, be thankful. Tell them you appreciate what they did. I know you probably said a quick, 'Thanks," at the time, but if you stop to really think about it, did it cost them something? Time? Money? Go out of their way for you? Put off their own agenda to please you or make your life a little less stressful? Thank them. Don't ever miss the opportunity to let people know you appreciate something they did for you.

3.  Contentment - Are you able to be content with what you have? So much of culture is anxiety and depression ridden because they can't appreciate what they have. They constantly search for the next new thing. What if you stopped for a minute, looked around, and wrote down what you are thankful that you have and are content with having? If you've already decluttered, this may be easier for you since you've only kept what's important to you. If you haven't, you may just realize how much you're surrounded by things that bring you no joy, nor are they currently relevant, or useful. Do you have a bed to sleep in? A table to eat on? Books to help you learn and grow? A computer so you don't have to go somewhere to do what you need to get done? Clothes to keep you warm? Food to eat? Shoes that aren't worn through? A vehicle to get you where you need to go? A job? Be thankful, because I have met many people in my life that don't have half of these things yet somehow they are content with what they do have, and they appreciate what they have. I know people who've lived without running water or hot water, no electricity for extended periods of time (including none to keep food in a refrigerator or cook with a stove), no heat in winter, no air conditioning in summer, no food when they or their children are hungry. Be content with what you have because someday it could all be taken away unexpectedly.

4.  Miracles - you can take this one however you choose. Some of us have a strong faith in a higher being and have seen miracles happen that cannot be explained any other way - far beyond coincidence. Maybe it was a serious health diagnosis from tests that suddenly cleared up without treatment overnight. It could've been seeing a total "180" in someone's personality that saved their life or that of another. It could be the miraculous timing or gift or meeting someone that never should've happened but did and changed your world (or someone else's). Others choose to live life without thought to any type of faith or higher being, and that's their choice, I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do - but even they have sometimes witnessed or seen things happen that there's no logical explanation for it. It could be a one in a million odds that came together in their favor. Maybe the timing on something was brought together in a way that no one could have even hoped for. Sometimes it's that chance meeting with a stranger that changes your whole world. Whatever miracles you've seen or experienced, be thankful for them. Every day there's people asking for a miracle and it just doesn't happen. Appreciate the wonderful ones you've received.

5.  Security - we no longer live with the naive belief that we are "safe" in this world There are people who do bad things, unexpected weather disasters, unstable stock markets, job insecurity, less relationship commitment than ever before, lies, dishonesty, and more. So how can you be thankful for security? It's like contentment - be thankful for the security you do have while you have it. If you know you've paid your mortgage or rent for the month, be appreciative that at least for the next month, you don't have to worry about being homeless. Many don't have that luxury. Did you go grocery shopping this week? At least you know you and your family will be able to eat for the next week or so without missing meals. Many don't have that luxury. Are you wearing clothes that aren't threadbare, stained, with large holes in them? Many don't have that luxury. Do you have a job or other income producing project/business? Many don't have that luxury. Is your car pretty reliable? Do you really expect it to break down if you drive it tomorrow? Many don't have that luxury. There's nothing more embarrassing than listening to someone find out after complaining about not having something that he's talking to someone with so much less than he has (and doesn't appreciate).

6. Health/Body/Mind - Okay, we all have things we don't like or have issues to deal with, but let me break this into 3 sub-topics in regard to thankfulness:

• Health:  Maybe you aren't in the best of health, maybe you are. Maybe you're on too many medications, maybe you aren't. Maybe you've got weight to lose, tired a lot, don't sleep enough, but maybe not. Either way, would you trade with a stranger who suffers from major health issues? You may have weight to lose but what about those struggling who can't do everyday tasks? You may be tired, but want to trade with someone who's got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? or Narcolepsy? Don't sleep enough? Want to trade with someone with a true, severe case of Insomnia where nothing works - not meditation, white noise, medications, bedtime routines, herbs & supplements, essential oils, aromatherapy, etc. Try going through life, having to go to work or school when you haven't gotten more than 6 hours of sleep across 3 or 4 days! Be thankful for the health you have, wherever it's at, because many would trade theirs in a heartbeat for yours. 
• Body: Do you have 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 hands, 2 feet, a crippling disease, cancer ravaging your insides, a nervous system that's medically failing? If you have the ability to walk, work, think, get out of bed in the morning, you don't have to live in a hospital, be appreciative of that. Be thankful that you can do the little everyday things you take for granted. Many don't have that luxury.
• Mind:  There's a growing number of people suffering from dementia, Parkinson's, and other mind degenerating diseases, as well as people being born every day with learning disabilities. Don't waste what you've been blessed with - a mind that works - however fast or slow. Appreciate that you can remember things, learn things, evaluate and initiate change, make intentional choices. Many don't have that luxury.

Now onto the little things that you can do every day to develop the HABIT of being thankful. Take note of the little things around you, things that could have been worse or gone badly. Learn to watch for them. Here's a few ideas:

your pet - you made it to the bus/subway/elevator before the doors closed - good hair days - finding money in the pocket of a jacket you haven't worn in a while - someone opening the door for you - when someone says thank you to you - sunny/rainy/cool/warm days when you need it - a good meal - good service - a comfy chair - the short line in the store - time with someone you love - vacations - the car started today - your paycheck was a little more than you thought - sunsets - a good book - a speech or documentary that helped change you - a moment that made you laugh - music - a good night's rest - winning something - scoring something you needed for free - getting the last "one" before it was gone (tickets, seats, items, etc.) 

What if tomorrow you woke up with only the things you remembered to say Thank You for the night before?