November 23, 2022

Positively Grateful & Thankful!

Giving thanks for everybody and everything every day

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays – and it's not just because of the desserts! Thanksgiving reminds me to be thankful for all that I have and to take a moment for gratitude. Sometimes we forget how much we have and what matters most in our lives, so I like to remind myself how important this day really is and reflect on just how lucky I am.

Thankful for what we have today

It’s easy to compare ourselves to others and be envious, jealous, and/or resentful of what they have – because we are focusing on what *we* DO NOT have. But focusing on those things leads to a whole slew of negative emotions, detrimental thoughts, and perhaps damaging actions; instead, we should be thankful for all that we DO have and start focusing on all the positive things in our lives! 

Here’s my go-to list for perpetual positivity: 

🙏 be grateful for what you have
🥰 appreciate what (and who) you have
🌟 don't take things for granted
🏆 don't be too materialistic
😾don't be too hard on yourself
🤕 don’t dwell on the negative
❌ and don't compare yourself to others 

That last one is perhaps the most crucial of all. It took me YEARS to learn this, and only then was I finally happy with myself and legitimately thankful for all that I had. I’m bolding this part because it’s tremendously important:

Do not compare yourself to others – only compare yourself to yesterday’s you. Are you doing better than yesterday? Great! Keep heading in that direction! Are you doing worse than yesterday? That’s okay, because now we can figure out what went wrong and change today’s course to head in the right direction :)

Don't forget to be thankful even when life gets tough! Remember: growth cannot happen without stress, and evolution cannot happen without change.

Thankful for what we have every day

Thanksgiving Day happens just once a year, but the best way to show our thanks is to be thankful every day. We can be thankful for the little things, like having internet to read these Design Notes, those leftovers in the fridge because YUM, taking hot showers, having cold A/C, or even knowing where you left your car keys. And don't forget about those BIG things to be super thankful for: your friends, family, furry friends, all that you have, all that you WILL have, and, most importantly of all, your health!  

Oh… and of course my mother’s home-made baklava, which I am exceptionally grateful for 😋 

But in all seriousness, I am wholeheartedly thankful for Artix Entertainment, the games they make, the opportunities they give to the community, and the games that I am a part of, too <3

Thank you everybody at Artix!

Thank you Artix yourself for keeping my phone number all these years!

And thank YOU, my dear Artix gamer, for putting up with all this pink text! Hehehe! 

So no matter where you are in the world, I sincerely wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving each and every day!

xoxo, Beleen :D