 Photo by Nicole Michalou at Pexels.com "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. " ~ Willie Nelson A grateful heart goes a long way, especially at Christmas. It is easy to feel so overwhelmed with the season's to-do list that taking the time to be thankful can be overlooked. When you look around your table, who do you see? Be thankful for the people you get to do life with and cherish them. No future Christmases are guaranteed with anyone, so let's make this one amazing for you and all the special people in your life. So, how do we do that exactly? Let's dive right in, shall we?  Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels.com Don't visit the complaint departmentGrowing up, whenever we started to complain or bicker endlessly—about home, life, or anything really—my mom would look at us and say, half-joking but half-serious, "Excuse me… is this the complaint department?" It always broke the tension and made us all laugh. It was also a great strategy to help us change our perspective and realize that an ungrateful heart truly gets you nowhere. Truth be told, Christmas has a way of somehow magnifying everything—our joy, yes, but also our stress, our busyness, and the parts of life that can feel uncomfortable or heavy. It’s no wonder we sometimes slip so easily into “complaint department” mode without even realizing it or wanting to. I’m understanding more and more that complaining can be a sign of something much deeper: tired hearts, stretched schedules, or grief that sneaks up on us in unexpected ways. That’s why gratitude matters so much, especially now. It doesn’t erase the hard things, but it gently redirects our focus so we don’t get stuck there. It offers us a way out, a way forward, a way to breathe again. One of my favourite songs recently is by Seph Schlueter called Counting My Blessings. It is such a great reminder to focus on the good in life, not the bad. There is always something to be grateful for, even if it is the fact that you made it through another day. Having the right perspective can really be a game changer.  Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA at Pexels.com Focus more on the gratitude list, than the Christmas list All gratitude counts. You do not have to feel totally in the holiday spirit to be grateful. Everyone is different, and that is perfectly ok. Some people are so grateful to spend time with friends and family this season, while others are most thankful if they spend Christmas alone. All gratitude is good for the soul. I heard a quote that said, what we often complain about is what others only dream of. That one really spoke to me. We often miss the mark at Christmas and fail to see what really matters. I don't want to miss that mark this year. How about you? You may be the type of person who waits for Christmas all year with excitement and anticipation. Perhaps you are the opposite and you have a heavy or broken heart this Christmas. You may, in all honesty, wish that you could erase Christmas from the calendar altogether. I have met and chatted with many people in that category and I do understand. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, having a gratitude attitude in your toolbox will help to carry you through the holidays and reap great benefits in the long run. If you are wondering where to start to incorporate more gratitude into your holiday season and daily routine, here are some suggestions. Call to Action:
Until next time, Dana Copyright: littlelessonslearnedbydana, © 2025
Tags: Christmas, Thankfulness, Meaningful holidays, Christmas mindset, Stop complaining, Positive attitude, Count your blessings, Gratitude, Thankful Heart, Attitude of Gratitude, Holiday Gratitude, Christmas Spirit, Season of Giving, Simple Joys, Mindful Christmas, Mindful Living, Positive Vibes, Self Care Season, Mental Wellness, Peaceful Mind, Life Lessons, Daily Inspiration, Heartfelt Moments, Reflect and Recharge, Joyful Living
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 Photo by HT Photography "Don't count the days. Make the days count." Muhammad Ali "One more day!" It’s a phrase I’ve repeated countless times throughout my life. Each time, it marked the end of something familiar and the beginning of something truly special. One more day until summer vacation... One more day until the wedding... One more day until the baby arrives... One more day until graduation... The list goes on and on. Recently I have been challenged in my spirit to look at the concept of "one more day" in a completely different light and I would like to share it with you. What if we began to see the phrase one more day in a completely new way, opposite to how we usually think of it? What if we viewed one more day not as something to count down, but as a precious gift from God, an opportunity to embrace and make meaningful? Let me explain. I’m planning to retire in a few years, and I’ve often found myself counting down the months and days. That’s understandable. But lately, I’ve felt the Holy Spirit gently challenge me: instead of focusing on the countdown, why not focus on the now? Why not be grateful for one more day to make a difference? Each day is a chance to show kindness, to serve, to shine light into a world that so desperately needs it. There’s so much work to be done in this world, and we need everyone, every heart, every hand on board.  Photo by HT Photography One more day to be kindIn my last blog post, Be the Sunshine, I shared the story of my mom and how she radiated kindness to everyone she met. For her, each new day was an opportunity to offer a kind word or a loving gesture to anyone who crossed her path. If you missed that post, you can check it out here. Never underestimate the power of kindness. If there’s something kind you’ve been meaning to do for someone, don’t wait but do it today. A simple act of love can make all the difference.  Photo by: Photo by Polina at Pexels.com One more day to make an impactThis broken world needs you, and the unique gifts that only you can offer. You were created by God with a distinct calling and a powerful purpose. So be confident. Step boldly into your calling. Add value. Join a cause. Fulfill a dream. Take that leap of faith. Do the thing that’s been on your heart for longer than you can remember. The world is already a better place because you are in it. Don’t let anything or anyone dim your light. Be a joy-spreader. Make it your mission each day to leave the world a little better, whether in small ways or big ones. The choice is yours. Don’t waste your days. Instead, choose to be someone who cherishes each moment and the incredible potential it holds.  Photo by TMS Sam at Pexels.com One more day to accept the love of JesusOur world needs God now more than ever. It feels like things are falling apart more and more each day, but here’s the good news: this is not how the story has to end. Jesus came to offer freedom, a true freedom that only He can give. He died on the cross to forgive our sins and to release us from the weight of past regrets and choices that were never part of His plan for us. Through Him, we can live each day with purpose, peace, and and a renewed sense of hope. Every single day can be better, richer, fuller, when we accept the free gift of salvation He offers. If you haven’t yet made the decision to follow Jesus, I encourage you: don’t wait. Make Him the Lord of your life today. From that moment on, you’ll never walk alone. You’ll do life with Him by your side and what an incredible life that is.  Photo by Brett Jordan at Pexels.com Well, my friends, I hope I’ve given you some food for thought. I’m speaking to myself just as much as I’m speaking to you, because I constantly need the reminder to thank God for one more day to follow Him and do His will. I want to live a life that makes Him proud. I don’t want to waste the potential He’s given me or miss out on the beautiful plan He has for my life. I’m not special. I’m just an ordinary person. But when partnered with an extraordinary God, I become unstoppable. God delights in using ordinary people just like you and me to make an extraordinary impact in this world. So, will you join me in making the gift of one more day truly count? Call to Action
Until next time, my friends, Dana 🎵 Check out this amazing song: "One More Day" by Sons of Sunday here. Copyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) Tags: make the days count, make a difference, thankfulness, live life, change your world
 Photo by HT Photography  Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels “Enjoy the little things in life for someday you’ll look back and realize they were the BIG things.” ~ Robert Brault“ Thanksgiving is just around the corner in Canada where I am so proud to live. It is truly a beautiful time of year. Today I noticed what some might deem, a little thing. The leaves had started to change into their glorious fall colours and I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of it all. I have often thought of how God created the incredible trees so that even in their death they exude beauty for all of us to witness. Now I had walked by these trees day after day, yet somehow never really “saw” them until today. Life is like that sometimes. Little, wonderful things can be right under our noses yet we somehow miss them for whatever reason. We have so many things to be thankful for that is certain, yet it is often the little things that we take for granted. We want different menu options, a larger bank account, a bigger home, a faster car, a better paying job and the list goes on and on. Sadly we forget at times those who are less fortunate and have none of these things at all.  Photo by MART PRODUCTION at Pexels Several years ago I was discussing different types of homes people have in Canada in social studies class with my students. Among the obvious answers were houses, apartments, trailer homes, and condominiums, yet in the discussion a very interesting “home” came up. A little girl raised her hand and said somewhat timidly “a cardboard box?” The puzzled students started giggling thinking this little girl was really confused, yet she went on to explain. On her family vacation they had driven through an area with a very high homeless population and she had seen a small settlement of makeshift homes from boxes and anything else these unfortunate people could find. The little girl was shocked and dismayed, but her parents used this opportunity to explain and to enlighten her that that is how some people live. The student then went on to educate her classmates about how lucky we are to live the way we do and how that experience was something she will always remember. Shelter is a little thing we often do not think of as a blessing until we are face to face with someone who does not have that simple necessity. Our class conversation took a deeper turn that day and allowed us to focus on the little things in life that we often take for granted. We are so blessed to have homes, transportation, money for our needs, clothing and food on our tables.  Photo by Lubomirkin on Unsplash One year a new little boy entered my classroom. His family had recently experienced some tough times financially, yet fortunately I was told things were starting to look up for his little family, as his father got a new job. When I asked him if he would like to introduce himself to the class and share something about himself that was interesting or special he was more than happy to oblige. He proudly said his name and then he said something without hesitation I will never forget. He said “two things that are special about me are I like to eat well, and I like to be clean.” Little things that we take for granted like plenty of food and a warm bath or shower were recent luxuries that he was truly grateful for. These little things were placed high on his thankful list. It was a very humbling moment for me and I felt honored to have that little guy on my class list. He stole my heart that day and I made it a personal mission of mine to make sure he felt very blessed that year under my direction.  Photo by Yan Krukau at Pexels Little things can bring us so much joy if we are open to recognizing them. A warm cup of tea, an unexpected phone call, a funny movie, a good laugh with friends, curling up for a nap, a warm cozy fire, or a lazy Saturday afternoon with no particular agenda can bring us such pleasure. There has been an uprising on social media about gratitude where people are making a conscious effort to recognize often the little things that enhance their lives and bring them joy. This is truly wonderful because it is important for all of us to stay in an attitude of gratitude to lead the best possible lives for ourselves. Some people are the opposite. As Sebastian says in The Little Mermaid they live their lives thinking “the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake.” They are never grateful for what is in front of them and they are never satisfied with what they have. This is so sad and a very unhealthy way to live. It is difficult to be around these types of people as their negativity can really bring you down too if you allow it. Sometimes it takes pivotal life circumstances to help them truly see their blessings.  Photo by paul wence at Pexels I have many scented body lotions and candles around the house. When my son Tyler was little he loved to smell these special little lotions, and small scented candles. He was quite obsessed actually and it was precious. He knew all the names by heart, and would he take them to my mom’s house and have her smell them too. He had such an appreciation for something so small it was truly heartwarming. He would say things like “This is summer peach or this is vanilla cookie,” and “Doesn’t it smell awesome?” as he would light up with pleasure over each smelly treasure. I remember thinking how sweet it was that he thought something so simple was so special and interesting. I knew right then, I could really learn a lot from him in this area.  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, (Hey, even in the USA it comes in November, which will be here before you know it!) what a perfect time to start focusing on what you do have over what you don’t. What little or big things are you most thankful for? My faith, family, friends, and career bring me great fulfillment and I am so blessed to have what I have in these areas. We all have areas of our lives that need changes or growth, but no matter who we are, we still have many things to be thankful for as well. The Bible tells us to be thankful in all circumstances, not just the perfect or ideal scenarios. God wants us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude no matter what comes our way and He really does want to bless us out of His deep love and commitment to us. So, as the turkey is passed around the table this year, take a moment to really take it all in. Don’t let it become a ritual. Focus on those who are at your table and reflect upon God’s goodness to you this past year. Count your many blessings and be thankful! Little things really are some of life’s biggest blessings! Until next time, Dana 1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Little Lesson Learned: A thankful heart for little things will really bless you and others. Tags: thankfulness, gratitude, thankful heart, Thanksgiving, little things, blessingsCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) second edition, first edition Little Things ( 2014)
 "This is a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before." ~ Maya Angelou Good days, bad days and everything in between. We all have them, but I sincerely hope your bad days are in short supply in your corner of the world. For quite some time my family was riddled in deep grief and sorrow after a lengthy period of profound loss of several family members, including my precious mom. Since that time I have personally declared this year THE YEAR OF JOY for that reason. I am bound and determined to find joy anywhere and everywhere, even if some days it is harder to spot. Most of our days generally speaking seem quite ordinary, yet even those run of the mill days are full of many gifts if you open your eyes to see them. Let's highlight a few of my personal favs. The gift of waking up On one of our local radio stations the DJ would always say "If there is air in your lungs today, praise the Lord as He is the one who put it there." This little phrase has always resonated with me. Every day we wake up to face a new day, as mundane or routine as it may seem, is a true privilege that some do not get. My mom unexpectedly died in her sleep. We were totally shocked and heartbroken. No one even considered that that particular Thursday would be her last, and that she would go to bed and never wake up. For this reason I am MORE thankful for EVERY day God gives me to love and honour Him the best I can. For a while I had been caught in the rut of "counting the days" instead of "making the days count." It is my goal now to strive to find meaning in each and every day to the best of my ability. I woke up to face another day. I am blessed. The gift of God's word Photo by John-Mark Smith at Pexels Starting each day with a devotional and reading God's word sets a wonderful tone for my day and gives me something positive to take with me as I head out the door. Since I was a child, my mom would help us memorize scripture and tell us to "tuck God's word in our hearts." I continue this routine and find God's word so meaningful and comforting on all my types of days. If reading scripture is new for you, there are many different translations and types of Christian bibles and you can find what suits you. Some examples are: the King James version, which is more like old English writing, using words like thee, thou and thus. Then there is a version called The Message Bible which puts scripture in everyday words that you and I use today. It is a matter of personal preference. The important thing is to READ the Bible, and a good place to start is Psalms and Proverbs if you are new at this. Having God's word at my fingertips helps me to know I am blessed. The gift of hot coffee Where are my coffee loving friends at? You are my people! That first cup of coffee, especially in the morning, really hits home. It is very special to wake up in the quiet of the morning before all the activity picks up and savor a hot coffee and some peaceful moments. I am drawn to all my favourite mugs. Lots of them have cool stories behind them, like the Charlie Brown one I just got from one of my students. This is my current favourite hands down. Sip, savor and smile. I can wake up and have a warm cup of coffee in my hand in minutes. I am blessed. The gift of so much clothes and food Photo by Liza Summer at Pexels Every day I get to CHOOSE what I will wear. I am sure many of you are like me and have many options of what to wear. Recently I packed up 3 bags of clothes for the thrift store and it did not even make a dent in my closet. My fashion options are many. I am blessed. My fridge and cupboard are also full and I realize this is often not the case for many. So much food for my family, and I do not have to worry about where our next meal is coming from. I am blessed. The gift of my own car Photo by Mike Bird at Pexels For many years we had only one car. I felt stranded all the time and often had to walk or bike places. Then we got a second car and well with two young adults sharing it with me, let's just say I was the one often asking friends for rides. Recently however, my daughter purchased her first car and something AMAZING happened for me... FREEDOM! With my own car now I feel very liberated. I can come and go as I please without making an elaborate car sharing schedule. Having a car to myself is a daily gift I am enjoying immensely. I am blessed. The gift of my career Photo: Little Lessons Learned by Dana My teaching job is a BIG answered prayer. For many years I tried to get a teaching contract but it was difficult as full-time jobs were scarce and in Ontario, Canada you must supply teach, day to day for quite a while before getting a permanent job. When I FINALLY got a contract, my superintendent told me to "shout it from the the mountaintops," and my principal at the time literally danced with me up and down the hallway. IT WAS A BIG DEAL! I have a great job. I am blessed. Well my friends, I hope my little walk down the path of the ordinary day, gave you something to think about. I know it sure did for me. I am working on being more grateful in all areas of my life. Being thankful for ALL my days, even the ones that are less noteworthy, is a great place to start! Until next time, Dana Ephesians 5:20 ~ Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Little Lesson Learned: Always remember the things we often take for granted every day is what some only dream of.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) Tags: blessings, gratitude, ordinary days, thankfulness, perspective |
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