Gratitude

Here are some examples:

• I am very grateful for my gran because she teaches me how to be a more caring person because she can't care for herself anymore.
• I am really grateful for my cousin, Beau, because he plays with me and always makes me feel special. He can also be really silly which makes me laugh.

Turn the screens off and turn your imagination on; for a night of entertainment that you and your family will never forget...

It's very simple, just set up a home theatre space by getting out some lamps and the bedsheets for the night. Make some tickets, allocate seats and maybe even set out some nibbles for your lucky guests.

Your performance can be an act of your choosing, a song, spoken word poetry, paper puppet show (silent or spoken), a comedy, a drama, a mystery, a story, the bogus news? If everyone is keen put all your ideas in a hat and get people to draw randomly for their performance. Collaborate or do a solo.

The list is endless and only limited by your imagination, give it a go, you will be grateful that you did!

I woke up this morning before the sun rose

It was a little chilly, a little dark

and

Very quiet

Ray by ray the earth came alive

Resplendent in colour

Vibrant with the sounds of birds

Just happy to be here

Yellow rays warmed me from my nose

To my toes

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou sunshine

For all that you give

Now it's your turn! It could be a haiku, a rhyming poem, a non-rhyming poem, a limerick, single stanza, multi-stanza, a sonnet, an ode and so on. Take your poetic license and have a go.

1. Sit or lie down comfortably
2. Close your eyes
3. Focus your attention on the area at the base of your nose above the upper lip
4. Become aware of your breathing - as you breath in, as you breath out

Don't worry if your mind moves away from your breath, just bring back your attention to the small area at the base of the nostrils, losing focus is normal when you're starting out. Aim for initially 5 minutes then work that up to 10 minutes, 15, 20 etc and have a goal of 1 hr in the morning or the evening. As your focus strengthens notice what happens to your mind.

1. Find a jar of your choosing

2. Decorate the jar or simply label it as your 'Gratitude Jar'

3. Everyday write one or more things that you are grateful for on a piece of scrap paper or a leaf and place it in the jar

4. Watch as your jar slowly begins to fill reminding you of all the things you have to be grateful/ thankful for in your life

5. Place the jar somewhere where you can see it regularly - your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, by the front door etc

6. Choose a time when to open it ie end of the week, end of the month, end of the year and remember all the reasons you have to be grateful for in your life

• Tell them in person
• Leave them a note somewhere
• Write them a letter
• Make them or buy them a gift
• Do something for them

Give it a go!

Write down the following. The first thing that comes to your mind when you think of:

Now create a paragraph using these. Start with a sentence beginning with 'I am….and for each new sentence start with 'I am…' eg I am dingo that walks the great plains. I am red ochre, the ancient blood of the earth. I am the rough bark of the bloodwood tree and so on.

Now create a new paragraph with the same sentences replacing 'I am' with 'I' eg I, dingo walk the great plains. I, red ochre, am the ancient blood of the earth. I, the rough bark of the bloodwood tree and so on.

This is a really good activity to fuel your imagination and at the same time build empathy and gratitude for the natural world around you. 

This truly is one of the most simple things you’ll ever do in your entire life. All you need to do is...

1. Go outside
2. Find a place in nature to sit down
3. Open your senses and observe
4. Notice one thing you are grateful for (trees, flowers, shade...)
5. Repeat as often as you can

I bet you’ve already done a 'Nature sit' without knowing it; chilling at the beach, or lying on the oval in the sun. This is a great way to feel a sense of gratitude for all that is going on around you.

Want to take it to the next level? Try here for some ideas

Start keeping a journal. Everyday write down three things that you are grateful for. Try to include all of your senses

• Things you love to smell, hear, see, feel and touch
• Things that happened to you in the day that you are grateful for?
• Opportunities you are grateful for
• Food, animals, music, trees, landscapes, weather, colours, textures etc you are grateful for

Set a goal to keep the journal for a week, then a fortnight, then a month, 6 months, a year. Observe how you begin to feel about your life and everything in it. 

• Offer to give mum or dad a shoulder, hand or foot massage
• Let someone go before you in a line
• Play a game with a sibling
• Leave someone a note telling them why you appreciate them
• Pick some flowers for someone

More ideas? Try here

This is a simple, creative activity that is a colourful reminder of the things that you are grateful for and that bring you happiness in your daily life.

Find out how to make a Gratitude Tree here