#gratefuledu – Elyse Hahne

Several months ago, Chris and I were in discussion about a gratitude chat to highlight the good we spread, cultivate, and relish around us. A time to reflect upon the topic of gratitude in the form of a twitter chat. Something I really glean information from is twitter chats.

Therefore, #gratefuledu was born and is a bi-monthly chat that highlights gratitude through the good, the tough, and how we can still see gratitude in the midst of any point in our lives. Something that blesses me is the power of this chat and how I am encouraged by others every other week. It’s real talk, building up others as we go, reflecting on our current practices, and is something that I hope to continue.

Something that hits home is kindness through gratitude. It doesn’t have to be much. Just a simple gesture or kind word can make someone’s day. When you are intentional with your actions and words, people notice. It can be a simple gesture or a little thing to you that can make someone’s day better. The beacon of gratitude shines.

Kindness matters. A smile, a laugh, holding a door for someone whose hands are full, a bottle of water, a piece of chocolate, and simple words of encouragement all go a long way

People notice the gratitude and kindness when you make an effort. You can make someone’s day by your one action. That’s pretty powerful.

This past Sunday, many of the members that joined the #gratefuledu chat really touched by heart and made me smile as we shared ways to refill the gratitude cup. Y’all, May is tough for so many. With deadlines, paperwork, spring fever brewing, and more, it’s a good time to reflect on the beacon of gratitude. Gratitude, in itself, is the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Gratitude is a CHOICE and we CHOOSE to show appreciation for all. It’s something that can make the world go around and can make the stress of everything diminish.

No act of kindess, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

For me, random acts of kindness through gratitude is my jam. Noticing what others do and appreciating what they give forth matters. Having someone’s day change by one handwritten note or kind comment matters. Putting forth intention to make someone’s day matters. Giving someone a pat on the back and spreading gratitude through kindness matters.

Whatever your gift may be in gratitude, I challenge you to be a beacon of gratitude and go forth to spread kindness through intentional acts to support one another each and every day. Your one act matters!

Calm: a state of being or action that one can feel, see, or act upon.

Yesterday, I took a drive to Texas Tulips after an appointment & was taken back by the calm of the field of tulips. The colors, the smells, and the sights. It was a gloomy day and on the cooler side but the flowers were radiant and really made it worth the drive.

The fields of tulips struck a cord with me as I attempted to not slip in the mud. A simple field of flowers can brighten my day. It can make me stop and appreciate the good around us.

Savoring the calm is a choice. A choice I take every day. Life gets crazy, don’t get me wrong, and deadlines and stress can creep in. At first, it can be okay and then you’re overwhelmed quickly. It’s a vicious cycle.

However, savoring the calm is a necessity of life. It’s a way to step back and relish the good around us. The good that keeps you sane. The good you look forward to. The good that surrounds you day in and out. The good that is around us all if we just stop and savor the calm.

Savoring the calm and be more than tulips or flowers for others. However, it’s a necessity of life. If we don’t slow down and savor what’s around us, we will miss it. Something we can help our students and colleagues around us notice. It’s as simple as a conversation. There’s good all around us. Have you stopped to savor the calm lately?

Tag: #gratefuledu

Beacon of gratitude

Savor the calm