National All Is Ours Day is celebrated on April 8th every year and in essence is a journey towards genuine appreciation that is divided up into three distinct areas. So, if you are feeling sad or unfulfilled, perhaps you need to follow these three principles in order to find some meaning and purpose again.
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Spend time in nature
The first of these approaches is to spend some time in the outdoors to pay attention to the simple yet incredibly things that nature has to offer. For those of us who spend our entire day in front of a screen, it is difficult to grab a few moments in gardens, local parks or dog walking spots that are awash with intricate processes and complex systems all of which function effortlessly with us as mere observers. So today, if the weather is kind where you are, why not try one of the following:
- Take you lunch break in the outdoors
- Have your post work coffee on your balcony or patio
- Enjoy a walk with your family along your nearest leafy path
- Drive to your local beauty spot and find a bench to sit on to soak it all up
- Unfold a picnic blanket in your garden, lie down on it and just listen
The only requirement is that you take in some fresh air and notice what is happening around you rather than looking at your phone or letting your mind wander.
Be thankful
The second rung of this ladder is to express gratitude for what you have. More often than not, it’s easier to focus on the things we don’t have- the bigger house, the flashier car, the better job, the nicer clothes- but we rarely stop and think about the things we DO have. Many of us are lucky enough to say we have a roof over our heads, a means of travel, something to keep us warm, a source of income, our health- all of these things may not be Instagram worthy or require an announcement on Facebook but they are blessings all the same. Not everyone has these luxuries- and yes that is what they are. None of us are entitled to anything, despite what we believe we ‘deserve’- so anything we do have is a bonus.
For today here are some things you can to to express this gratitude:
- - Write a gratitude journal
- - Tell someone you care about how much they mean to you
- - Have a quiet few moments to yourself to mentally list the things you have in your life that others perhaps don't
- - Write a thank you note to someone
- - Tell a store manager how much one of their members of staff helped you out today
Sharing is caring
We teach children all about the importance of sharing yet as we get older some of us forget how effective giving to others can be, which is why it is the third piece of the puzzle. Sharing not only helps those around us, but it also makes us feel good too. One of the best ways to appreciate what we have is to give something up. Lockdown was proof of how much people are willing to share to ease the burdens of others during times of crisis and uncertainty, and it’s vital that we keep up all the acts of goodwill we made over the last two years.
There are so many ways you can pay it forward to others:
- Donate to a food bank
- Send some items to your local charity shop
- Donate to your local charity
- Volunteer your time somewhere that needs the extra pair of hands
- Invite someone over to share your evening meal
- Buy some food for a homeless person
Happy National All Is Ours Day everyone! Spend it well!
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