The Thankful Tree

by Two Chums on November 6, 2020

This year of 2020 has been a tough one in one way or another for everybody. In some ways it feels like it has gone on forever, but in other ways, it seems impossible that the holidays are just around the corner again. Believe it or not Thanksgiving is just 3 weeks from yesterday.

No matter how bad this year has been, there are always things to be grateful for. Our ability to recognize the good and call it out and celebrate it and give thanks for it, is a sign of how rich we really are. As we’ve quoted many times, “Gratitude is riches”.

To remind yourself, and help your family move away from the negativity of focusing on the hardships and looking instead for the good, “plant” a Thanksgiving Tree by your door so as you go out and come in you and your family and guests can take a minute to count your blessings. Simply write one of those blessings down and put it on your tree each day between now and November 26th, Thanksgiving Day. Making grateful deposits on your tree will find you feeling joyful and grateful when November 26th rolls around.

Here are some fun ideas for making (or buying) a tree on which to hang your thankful thoughts.

Buy or clip some Fall foliage and arrange in a vase. Cut leaves from colored card stock and place some double stick tape on the back after you write on the leaf what you are grateful for and then press it on to the stem or leaves of the foliage.

Arrange some bare twigs in a vase. Cut out leaves or even circles from scrap book paper and punch a small hole and add string or ribbon to hang your thankful note from the twigs.

Use a large chalkboard and draw a tree trunk and branches. Write your message of
“Give Thanks” then, either draw open leaves that a word of something you or others are grateful for can be written in, or again use doubt stick tape and add construction paper leaves. Don’t forget to add some pumpkins and foliage around your chalkboard.

Place some real or faux foliage with berries in a glass container. Cut leaves from gray paper and attach the leaves to the limbs of your arrangement with mini clothespins. (These can often be found at your local dollar store along with a white pen to use for writing on the gray leaves)

If you aren’t feeling crafty or just don’t have time for a DIY project, buy this tree from Amazon to put your leaves of thanks on. When Thanksgiving is over you can use your tree to hold family photos or holiday cards.

These are just few of the ideas we came across to get your creative juices flowing. The possibilities are endless, as are the blessings you have been given. Once you start listing them, you will realize just how blessed and rich you really are. Get started this weekend. We’ve heard a lot this year about Covid and how contagious it is. Gratitude is contagious too….but it will make you happy and healthy… full of love, joy and so much abundance!