Project 365 Thanks. Are you ready?

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I was in the shower when I came up with the idea for Project 365 Thanks.  Seriously, all of my best ideas come to me in there.  Maybe I should shower more often, hmmmm… Anyways, I came up with the idea to give thanks for at least one thing every day for the year of 2012.

The idea was inspired by reading the book 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Like her, I want to learn to have a heart of gratitude.  Sometimes it’s easy to be thankful, but many times it’s hard.  When the kids are screaming, the dishes are piled high, and I have a raging headache, it’s hard to say “thanks”.  But this is when it’s most important.  To learn to give thanks in all circumstances requires practice.  Transformation requires training.  Living a life of gratitude does not come by accident.

I don’t know about you, but more and more I feel overwhelmed with busyness.  I am bogged down with the weight of hurry.  Hurry, hurry, hurry.  My mind races, and I have a hard time concentrating on the task at hand or even the most important people right in front of me.

Stopping to give thanks will slow down the hurry, and bring my attention to where it needs to be.  As Ann says, “Wherever you are, be all there.”

I can also feel God working on me in the area of giving.  I want to give more, and not just out of abundance. I want to give sacrificially, humbly.  When I learn the heart of gratitude, I will become a purer giver.

If you want to join me, I would be honored to have you come along on this journey.  I think that this project will evolve as we go along, but here is how it will start on January 1st.

  • Each day, post the thing you are thankful for with the tag #365thanks.  You can post it on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, your blog, Instagram, wherever you want.  If you want to share it with all of us, make sure to tag it, and post it on the InspiredRD Facebook page.
  • Each Thursday, we will do a link up.  You can post your favorite thankful moment of the week, or a blog post you have written about gratitude, a photo you took, basically anything that you did for Project 365 Thanks.  I think that by sharing our gratitude with each other, we will find even more inspiration.
  • Make sure to grab a button below for your blog if you are participating.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know.  As I said, I am looking for this to evolve in whatever way it’s supposed to.

Leave a comment on this post if you plan to participate.  I can’t wait to get started!

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  • Janel December 30, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    I love this! I always try and write in my gratitude journal but even that gets lost by the wayside. I’m ready for #365thanks!

  • Cynthia Sommer December 30, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    Sounds like a wonderful, inspiring idea! Can’t wait to join you on it. 🙂 Happy new year!

  • Erin Kreitz Shirey December 30, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    I genuinely this idea and also that the focus and goals will be evolving each week and month. To look back at a year of thanks, come 12.31.12, will be rather incredible. I am in too! Cheers!!

  • Pipi December 30, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    I’m in! I’m thankful that you have such amazing ideas in the shower. I’m trying not to let it happen, but my year doesn’t seem to be ending on a good note. I’ve been having one very stressful pity party lately. I need to step back and no matter if I’ve been working since mid November without a day off, among other things, that doesn’t mean life sucks. I need to remember and give thanks for all the things that I should be thankful for in my life. So again, thank you!

  • Jess @ Floptimism December 30, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    I’ve already tried to start, each morning waking up and saying one thing I’m looking forward to that day and each night saying one thing I’m thankful for from that day…but it’s a tough habit to get into! I’m definitely going to try, though.

  • Angel December 30, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Great idea, Alysa! I’ll join you because I’m thankful for YOU! Love you, friend!

  • Jenn December 30, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    I’m in! I’ve already got my new gratitude journal ready for 2012 and look forward to continuing giving thanks!

  • Shelley (@momma_oz) December 31, 2011 at 5:48 am

    I’m in. 100%

  • Megan @NcCarterFamily December 31, 2011 at 8:02 am

    I’m totally in

  • Annett @ Fit Moms Fit Kids Club December 31, 2011 at 9:07 am

    What a great idea!! I’ll share this with my readers!!

  • Andrea Emilien (@AndreaEmilien) December 31, 2011 at 9:56 am

    I am in!! This is just what I need when I have a “day” and need reminding of the goodness of life.

  • Patrice Garrick December 31, 2011 at 10:05 am

    Love it! Totally in. This will do wonderful things for so many people. There are too many reminders of the bad. It will be quite nice to be reminded of the many things we have to be grateful for.

  • julee December 31, 2011 at 10:23 am

    I think this is a great idea…we have so much to be thankful for but busy lives seem to get in the way until a life altering event humbles us and reminds us what is truly important and should be a priority! Thanks for starting such a postive movement!

  • April Bowers December 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I am sooooo in! What a great way to make us focus on the GOOD in our lives. I think this is going to help me have the best year yet!

  • Emily December 31, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    I’m in. Jenn bought me that book a little while ago and I’m about half way through. Definitely inspiring me to find more things to be thankful for.

  • Laura Maksymiak December 31, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    April passed along the info on FB and I was intrigued and followed to this page to read more. I’m definitely in! What a fantastic idea 🙂

  • Jennifer December 31, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    I love this! I have already started a 1000 thanks journal for our family. I think I will use this idea to “wake up” my blog. I’m in!

  • Melanie January 1, 2012 at 9:09 am

    Count me in!!!

  • Cory January 1, 2012 at 9:26 am

    I’m in! I was actually putting together a gratitude journal for 2012 when I saw a post about this on twitter!

  • Joe January 1, 2012 at 9:26 am

    Sounds like a great idea. I’m in!

  • Kristen January 1, 2012 at 10:06 am

    We are about to have twins & I am starting a blog about what it will be like to be a SAHM with a 3 yr old & twins. Perfect thing to keep me focused on God all year!

  • Matt January 1, 2012 at 10:55 am

    Love this idea!

  • Danielle Omar January 1, 2012 at 11:22 am

    Love the power of gratitude! Been doing this for years, happy to share with you!

  • Kristin January 1, 2012 at 3:26 pm

    This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing it, I’m in!

  • JenCoen January 1, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    Already started! Tweeted AND Blogged my Day One of #365thanks … this is so exciting and so inspiring! Thanks Alysa!!

  • Emily January 1, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    I’m going to try this out…

  • Debbie January 1, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    Showers are awe inspiring – maybe that should be my 1st thankful….

  • Julie Anne January 2, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Count me in! Did #photoaday last year and me and my camera need a break! I kinda stalled in my #1000gifts when I reached 1000, so this might help me get back on track!

  • Lexie @ This Aussie Eats January 2, 2012 at 7:48 am

    Love the idea of focusing on being present and thankful each and every day.

    Thank for sharing, I’m in!

  • hannah singer January 2, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    yes! i am in! certainly can join in through twitter each day, will blog as often as i can! thanks! xo

  • Lauren January 2, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Wonderful idea!!! A day late, but I’m in 😉

  • Emma c/o The Hearty Heart January 3, 2012 at 7:26 pm

    I started seeing all the #365thanks comments on twitter-such a simple yet powerful idea. I’m excited to participate!

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    hope i do it right:)

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      You did! So glad to have you on board Laura!

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    this sounds like a great idea thanks for bringing this up. it will get me warmed up for the bible reading challenge that my friend is doing

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