Living in the West, we are blessed with such material bounty even in hard economic times. Our standard of living is one of the highest in the world. Fabulous things in all shapes and sizes exist to satisfy our every want. Because the possibilities are so endless, our appetites for consuming become bottomless. Wanting more and more, we start losing our sense of reverence for life. The drive to fill our need to consume overtakes our sense of gratitude. Too busy acquiring and labeling, we start to look past the people and things in our lives until they disappear. The next acquisition takes all of our attention and focus. How do we stop taking people and things for granted? How do we come back into balance?
Home is a great way to start noticing the bounty in our lives again. Here are some of my favorite ways to practice reverence:
- Start a gratitude journal. By writing down five things that we are grateful for each day, we focus more on abundance and less on lack in our lives. I think that it is a daily practice that could change our lives and fill that need to consume. Have fun picking a journal. I chose one that looks great on an accent table near my favorite chair.
- At your next dinner party, think about putting inexpensive, little gifts at each place setting. It is a great way to practice gratitude and show appreciation, but it looks festive too. Friends love to take home party favors. Hunting for little treasures to give without breaking the bank is so much fun. Be creative.
- Tie beautiful accent ribbons around favorite letters, postcards, and books that friends and family have given. Use these treasured piles on night stands, end tables, and bookshelves to enjoy every day. It is a decorative way to practice gratitude for the effort of others in our lives.
