I love saying thank you. I can easily make a list of what I’m grateful for—my people, my home, my community, my work and the opportunities that have come my way.
But being content? That’s harder.
Discontentment shows up in different corners of my life: my work, my finances, my home, even my relationships. I’m a striver. I’m always thinking about what’s next, what could be bigger(!), better(!) or different.
I think the first step is simply to notice. (And then, of course, I can become discontent with the fact that I’m discontent. Haha.)
But I really do want to enjoy the places I’m at right now.
The other day, Billy Joel came on the radio, and suddenly I was riding the bus to school again. I remembered the song and how impossible it seemed that those days would ever end. Now, so much has changed. The people, the places, even me.
It reminded me: these are the days to hold on to.
So, what does it mean to live Thank + Full?
1. Pay attention. Put down the phone. Savor the coffee. Notice the river, the changing leaves, the familiar faces. We cannot appreciate a life we are too distracted to experience.
2. Define “enough.” More will always be available. Decide what enough means for you—and enjoy it.
3. Stop comparing. Someone else’s house, career, body or vacation isn’t the measuring stick for your life.
4. Open your hands. Give away what you no longer need. Share your time, talents, resources and attention. What feels like excess to us may be exactly what someone else needs.
5. Make the first move. Call someone. Invite someone to coffee. Introduce yourself to a neighbor. We don’t just live in a community; we create one.
6. Keep growing without chasing your worth. Contentment isn’t complacency. Take the next right step, but don’t believe you’ll finally be enough when you arrive.
7. Become a blessing. Do something kind that nobody sees. Make the call. Give the meal. Offer encouragement. Let your generosity overflow.
Perhaps that is the real invitation of The Thankful Issue: not simply to count our blessings, but to notice them, appreciate them and become one.
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
— 1 Timothy 6:6
The hourglass is running. Maybe that isn’t a reason to hurry. Maybe it’s a reason to pay attention.
Perhaps the fullest life isn’t the one that has the most. It’s the one that has enough to give.