The Litter Box Trials – Final Scoop

I’ve learned a thing or two these past few months as I’ve tried to live a more grateful life, mostly things about myself. Overall, I’m a good person. My heart tends to be in the right place, I have a strong sense of right and wrong and I’ll stick up for kids, animals and old people in any situation. That being said, I am also spoiled, ungrateful and selfish. I think it’s important that I not only know, but can admit these things about myself. If I approach every situation with the knowledge that I don’t want to behave like a spoiled, ungrateful, selfish brat – then perhaps it will help my overall demeanor. Some things just are what they are. For instance, as an INFJ I am all about things being ‘fair’ and when I think someone’s getting one over on me I am going to freak out. That’s just who I am. I try and make sure things are fair for others and I expect them to be fair for me. I’m also an introvert (note the aforementioned INFJ) and need my downtime…period the end.

The main takeaway here is to be mindful of yourself, your actions and how that combination can affect others. Do your best not to take anything for granted, show those who deserve it your appreciation and remember that life is short and we are never promised tomorrow. If today was your last day, would you be proud to be remembered for the things you did? If the answer is no, maybe you should dig around in life’s litter box and clean out some of the shit. Fenway, and everyone else in your life, will thank you.

Fenway

Fenway – Waiting for you to clean your box

The Litter Box Trials – The Ugly Truth

It’s been about a month since I started trying to live a grateful life and here is the sad, sad truth: It’s hard to do. I know, I know! I have so many things to be grateful for – in fact, I have a list if you’d like to see it and about seventeen entries in my gratitude journal – but it is hard to keep a grateful outlook when ‘life’ gets in the way. I find myself angry at traffic, angry at technology, angry when things aren’t going my way…just angry for reasons that shouldn’t matter. Now that I’m paying attention, I’m a pretty awful, selfish, ungrateful person – which is a damn shame. I’m working on it by trying to live in the moment more and stop rocking in the worry chair – but I have to work on it every day.

My Gratitude Journal

My Gratitude Journal

I’m a fan of the gratitude journal, which I complete at work in the mornings. I tend to get in the office before the majority of the folks so it’s quiet and that gives me time to reflect on what’s been going on. It’s been helping keep me in the right mindset. In fact, the journal helped me see the good in a situation I would’ve previously been aggravated about so overall, that’s a win.

I haven’t started my gratitude letter yet. In case you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s a heartfelt letter you write to someone listing specific things they’ve done that you’re grateful for. You’re supposed to read it to them in person but as a grateful introvert, that might not be ideal for me. I know who I want to write it to. There’s a 50-50 chance it goes over well. I will write it by the end of this month. Goal set.

The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan

The Gratitude Diaries

The roadmap for this little journey is from Janice Kaplan’s book, The Gratitude Diaries. I highly suggest this audiobook, especially for on the way to work, though I’m sure the printed copy is just as good.

I’ll try to think of something a little more snazzy for my October update, you know, so you can be grateful you actually read the post. See you then.