The Wall

If you put a sticky note on the wall for every thing you are grateful for how much wall could you fill? About a year ago I heard a bunch of talks about being grateful. One of the talks said, “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” This and many other statements, stories, and experiences caused me to think. I was not at a high point in my life at the time and I thought to myself, "I might as well give it a try. I don't know what else to do." So when I got back to my apartment I asked my roommates if I could create what I called a gratitude wall. I explained that on this wall I wanted to put sticky notes of things I was grateful for. Anyone could join in. We even bought special sticky notes for the task. Everyone had agreed and it was to be put on a wall in the front room. Only six sticky notes were allowed per person per day. Every day I tried to put something on the wall. Well, it worked! Life became better and a little easier. I stopped thinking about myself so much and started looking at ways to help others. I noticed the trees around me and the glorious world we have been given. It was truly amazing. The sticky note wall became a huge blessing. We covered most of the wall in a month or so. We rearranged it into a tree on day for Christmas. It contained everything! People who did not live in the apartment contributed to the wall. Some people would come over just to see it.

This simple wall of sticky notes gave me motivation to wake up every morning. As I went through my day I thought about what I could put on the wall. It motivated me to find the good in things and stop looking at the bad so much. It gave me hope that life would get better. It was simply amazing how a few sticky notes on a wall could change my life so much! Some people keep gratitude journals. Others express gratitude in songs or art. As for me, I need something that hits me in the face. Something that says, "Hey! Are you paying attention? You live in a beautiful world and have a fantastic life! Don't forget it!" Gratitude is not just for Thanksgiving. It's not just for when you feel like it. It's for always. And don't forget it!