9 Days of Gratitude

Day 9

“Please and thank you are the magic words.”

As the Thanksgiving holiday ends, the need to extend a heartfelt thank you to other people is very important.

By asking others to please contribute to stopping violence against women by showing their support through taking action, WOTW thanks YOU for all that you have done.

For advocates who believe that violence is not the answer, you are truly making the world a better place. It is easy to say something but much harder to actually take steps to create change in things we believe in. Shouldn’t all women be given the respect in which they deserve? I’m sure you answered yes to that question and we are very pleased. In order to help women be respected in every way, we must work together to stop violence.

If you are helping your friends, family, community, others or even yourself to help stop violence, you are a rockstar!

WOTW would like to thank all of our board members, affiliates, followers and friends for joining us on this journey to once and for all stop violence against women. With your help, everyday we are making a difference in someone’s life.

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 8

From of the blog of my dear friend and rockstar, Noeleen McGrath, McGrath Communications

“Giving Thanks to my friend in Abilene”

By Noeleen

With Thanksgiving fast approaching…

I wanted to express my gratitude while teaching journalism students a lesson too. I hope that you’ll indulge me and read the whole thing.

“TV news is a cutthroat business.” That’s the first thing I tell the journalism students that I mentor. “Newsrooms are filled with piranha. It’s rare to find even one person that you can trust. Rarer still– to find someone you can call a friend.” That’s why so few people last in TV news. To survive (mentally/emotionally)– you need friends. But friends are hard to come by.

I was fortunate to find a friend at every station I worked at. But the friendships didn’t happen right away. Always– there was a painful process of elimination. And sometimes the friends came in surprising packages like my intern, Brian.

Brian was a wunderkind. He was a freshman in high school when he started interning for me. I kicked his butt on a regular basis. I told him the newsroom wasn’t a playground and if he didn’t want to work– he should stay at home.

Prodigy that he was– he wanted to come to the newsroom– even though home was a great place to be. His mother, Elaine, is a wonderful, big-hearted woman. She opened her home to a few of us on Sundays for dinner, making us feel like we had a family in Abilene.

Truly, it’s people like Elaine that makes your television news experience in small markets bearable. Without her, I don’t think I could have survived the year and three months I was there. I missed my family. I was making almost no money; I qualified for food stamps. But Elaine always made me feel rich in her warm and welcoming home.

Brian and I have stayed in touch over the years. Yesterday he emailed me to tell me that his mom has stage four cancer. And I thought– No! Not this lovely woman. It’s not possible. Have I ever really told her how much her kindness meant to me? Have I properly expressed how grateful I was that she came into my life? Does she know that there were plenty of times that I thought about giving up? But I didn’t…because her kindness and encouragement gave me the strength to keep going when most would have packed it in.

It’s the people that you meet along the way that not only make the journey enjoyable– they make it possible.

Thank you, Elaine, for your friendship...your warmth… your generosity of spirit.

I couldn’t have done it without you.”

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 7

A reprint from the Washington Post by

Brad Hirschfield

Named as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and one of the top 30 “Preachers and Teachers” by Beliefnet.com

Thanksgiving: a path to happiness and health

Thanksgiving is here and I love the holiday. I also appreciate that being thankful can be challenging in difficult times, whether the challenges are related to finances, health, or relationships. But it's precisely when we find ourselves in challenging circumstances that thankfulness is especially valuable and helpful. 

Gratitude is actually medically proven to lift our spirits and improve our health. And while this may disappoint some folks, the object of our gratitude is entirely irrelevant, at least in terms of the health and happiness benefits which it creates.

Whatever the reason, the following eight simple steps will actually help us all to stay a little more thankful this Thanksgiving and find new happiness because we are.

1. Find what you're grateful for. The real uncertainty we face about our futures can make us quite fearful and sad. Locating those things for which we can still be grateful, brings joy even in the face of those challenges without pretending they are not real.

2. Articulate it. Tell a friend or loved one a story about something for which you are grateful. Don't be surprised to find yourself smiling by the end of that story.

3. Consider the difference between wealth and value. While material wealth is important, it is not the only source of real value in our lives. We can all celebrate value, even when the material wealth in our lives is taking a beating.

4. Remember that wealth begins within. An ancient rabbinic teaching reminds us that we are wealthy when we are happy with what we possess.

5. Acknowledge that happiness and satisfaction are different. We can want more than we currently have and still be happy with what we've got. Wanting more does not have to get in the way of enjoying what we already have. If it does, we will never have enough.

6. Appreciate that abundance, be it relationships or in material wealth is all relative. A person who lives in a $100,000 house in a neighborhood of $75,000 homes experiences living in a mansion. The same house in a neighborhood of $500,000 homes may feel like a hovel.

7. Help yourself by helping others. The holidays are a great time to reach out to other people in need. Helping others address their needs is one of the best ways to relieve the anxiety we may feel about our own.

8. We all have something to give. No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can all offer support to those around us. Whether it's a penny, a hug, or much more, the act of giving always makes us feel as if we have more than we thought we had.

Happy Thanksgiving!

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 6

With Gratitude for these benchmarks……… a reprint from AAUW

“The American Association of University Women would like to pause this Thanksgiving to give thanks for the many wonderful opportunities and advancements for women and girls during 2010. Here are just a handful of them”

· The increased number of female ambassadors to the United States. Twenty-five of 182 ambassadors in Washington are women, a fivefold increase since the late 1990s.

· The equal opportunities in the Navy for women to serve, and for all the women and men who serve our country in the military. For the first time ever, women will serve on submarines next year.

· Equal Rights Advocates in California fighting on behalf of female UC Davis students for increased opportunities in sports, and for the ACLU of Louisiana for contesting sex segregation in public schools. These Title IX advocates are increasing opportunities for girls and women everywhere.

· First Lady Michelle Obama for highlighting the epidemic of childhood obesity. Mrs. Obama is encouraging active families, schools, and communities, and promoting smart decisions about eating right through the “Let’s Move Campaign”

· Title IX legal victory in Michigan by a student who underwent years of bullying because his school failed to protect him and for the Justice Department lawyers in New York interpreting Title IX to cover discrimination based on gender stereotypes; the Civil Rights Division applied the law to a case on behalf of an effeminate teenage boy beaten up for his demeanor.

· The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s effort to combat the growing public health issue of teen dating violence, which included the release of an interactive web-based training for educators and others working with teens.

· The AAUW research report, Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, which explains the shortage of women in STEM fields. The acclaimed report received nationwide coverage in publications like New York Times, Washington Post, and TIME magazine.

· The first female president of Harvard University, Drew Gilpin Faust. Since she has begun to serve, Harvard has seen a record number of women among its faculty.

· The 40 % drop in the global maternal mortality rate since 1980 and the continued attention maternal health is receiving as part of the Global Health Initiative and from a UN Millennium Development Goals.

· The many, many tireless supporters of the Paycheck Fairness Act and pay equity in the workforce, like Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the House sponsor of the bill that was barely defeated in the Senate.

· The historic passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. After years of advocacy led primarily by immigrant women of color, New York State's more than 200,000 domestic workers will be entitled to basic workplace protections including paid sick time, vacation days and overtime pay.

· The 90^th anniversary of the 19^th amendment.

· Julia Gillard, the first female prime minister of Australia, and for Dilma Rousseff, who will become the first female president on January 1, 2011 of Brazil.

· The creation of UN Women, or the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, headed by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. The entity will work to aid member states in successfully reaching their goals on gender equality and enhance the empowerment women worldwide.

· The confirmation of Justice Elena Kagan as the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court; a third of the high court is now female for the first time in history.

· The first provisions of the new health care law kicked in this year, many of which specifically support women, including a focus on the health of children, lifetime caps, and free preventive care.

· The United States rising significantly in the World Economic Forum2010 Global Gender Gap Report rankings from 31st last year to 19th this year, the first time the United States has been in the top 20 since the report began five years ago.

· The publication of AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Program Manager Holly Kearl Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming for Women and the Secrets of Powerful Women: Leading Change for a New Generation

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 5

“Start Living a Fuller, Happier Life Today"

Living with Gratitude
By Jean Chatzky
October 09, 2007

Mike Robbins was living out his boyhood dreams as a professional baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. Then at the age of 23, he sustained an injury that ended his career but also gave him a fresh new perspective on life. "The one regret that I had had nothing to do with any of the games that I had lost or mistakes I'd made on the field—it was just that I didn't fully appreciate it while it was happening," he says. Jean talks with Mike about ways to put the power of appreciation and gratitude in action and start living a fuller, happier life today.

Appreciate yourself. Appreciating your strengths is the foundation for appreciating life,
Mike says. It shouldn't be confused with arrogance. "If we don't appreciate ourselves, it's
very difficult to accept the appreciation of any one else or really to attract a whole lot of
success into our lives," Mike says.

Confront the negativity in your life. Shift your focus away from the negative, fearful
messages you may be getting from the media, other people and your own mind. In the
workplace, this can include complaining and gossiping. "Notice that the more you focus
on what you don't like and what you're complaining about, a) it doesn't get any better and
b) it often makes things worse," Mike says.

Pay attention to what you're paying attention to. To shift your focus to the positive
side of life, consider keeping a gratitude journal or talking at family meals about things
you're grateful for. "We all have a choice—we're not victims of our lives, we're not
victims of our circumstances," Mike says. "We can consciously choose to focus on the
good stuff and it makes a big difference."

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 4

Gratitude: “It's so important to let those who surround us know that we love them. We almost take it for granted that they will always be there but in life I have learnt that isn't always the case. So let the people you love know how they fill your life with purpose.”


Tomorrow-I'll tell him just what he means,
That living and loving with him is in my dreams
Tomorrow-I'll give a big hug to mum,
Say a quick thank you for all that she's done.
Tomorrow-I'll call or even drop by,
I'll say 'I love you' state all the reasons why.

Tomorrow-I'll go about getting in touch,
With forgotten friends I miss so much.
Tomorrow-I'll take the first step to my goal,
That I've always thought would make my life whole.
Tomorrow-I'll count all my blessings in life,
Consider it privilege to be a midwife …

But what should I do if that day never comes,
And all good intentions come undone.
If life should spin a crazy dance,
All these things and you never got the chance.
If you woke up tomorrow to find that they'd gone,
Looked at your list, realized you'd done none.

All the things you were going to do today,
A million things you never got to say.
Would you be confident that you'd given your all,
Or guilty that you didn't make that call?
Could you be at peace, content that they knew,
Just how much they all meant to you?

So, to avoid that nightmare never becoming real,
Love life, love others and show how you feel.

- Written in 2004 by Stephanie Ineson

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 3

Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes, when you don't have the time to listen...

A young and successful executive was travelling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared, instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door.

He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car, shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

"Please, Mister, please, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop." Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay. "Thank you, sir. And God bless you," the grateful child said to him.

The man then watched the little boy push his brother to the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar... a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

www.yourlifehappiness.com

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 2

“It is better to give than to receive” – Mark Twain

I could not think of a more perfect time than Thanksgiving to share gratitude for health, good friends & family. Helping others at this time makes us better individuals. Reminding those less blessed that they are not alone can give them strength and hope that tomorrow will be better.

This inspirational poem published on Prayables (thank you Susan Diamond, Chief of Pray) expresses how we can share with others blessings we have been given.

Giving Back

As you've blessed me,
help me be a blessing to others.
Show me what I can bring
to the table so someone else
can have a better quality of life.
Help me to share what I have,
even if it's just my time, so that I know
there's a child who can sleep
in a warm bed tonight,
or a senior who will have a good meal,
at least for today.
Please allow me to help out my community
in that same spirit that You share with all.
- Ruth Williams

Remember, one act of kindness goes a long way. Bring peace and love into another person’s heart by healing them with care.

9 Days of Gratitude

Day 1

“Thanksgiving is the therapy we all need to keep cognizant of the blessings and the beauty of living.”

As Thanksgiving approaches Women of the World will devote 9 days of gratitude on our blog. We begin with quotes that resonate & can readily be shared with your friends, loved ones, signature & social media outreach. We welcome contributions – if you have a story that reflects gratitude, appreciation, and acknowledgment – we will consider using your story on one of the upcoming days.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” –Melody Beattie

“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” –Lionel Hampton

“Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone”. -G.B. Stern

“Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.” - Jacqueline Winspear

“Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.” -Estonian Proverb

“This year let's set aside a few minutes of the holiday
to sit alone and think of the many things
for which we should be thankful 
- then this great holiday will have true meaning for us.”

Go forth, be thankful for all you have and spread love, not violence.