Finding Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one of the most meaningful holidays we celebrate here in the United States. We take time to come together with family and friends and reflect on the things we are most grateful for - our faith, families, the food we eat, our most prized possessions, traditions, and our homes- just to name a few. 

It’s no secret that we value loving our homes and filling spaces with high-quality items that are not just functional, but also beautiful here at the Merc. But sometimes when it comes to the place where we live, we’re quick to dismiss the gift of home. 

It’s easy to focus on the things you don’t love about your house and wish you could change. 

It’s tempting to feel jealousy over the size of someone else’s home or how it’s decorated.  

It’s amazing how quickly you can slip into discontentment if you haven’t been able to purchase your “dream home” just yet. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a change or having a goal to live somewhere else. But it brings up the age-old debate of contentment vs complacency.  

The goal of contentment is to find the balance between being happy where you are now and the drive to get to where you want to be in the future. 

And with that, it’s easy to miss the point of gratitude when it comes to our homes. 

 "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." - William Arthur Ward 

During this time of gratitude and thankfulness, when it comes to your home think beyond the things that cause you frustration and the things you want to change, but instead, focus on the gifts inside. 

Things like the laughs and good meals you’ve had around the kitchen table, seeing your children take their first steps in the living room, movie nights on the couch cuddled up under a blanket with your significant other, and messy kitchen disasters that your family still talks about.  

There are countless little moments of sheer perfection in un-perfect homes that are woven into your core memories, making you the person you are today. 

Here are 5 ways that you can show gratitude to the roof over your head, the setting for some of your most cherished memories - your home:

Give it a good scrub 

Go beyond the daily sweeping and spot mopping, set aside time to scrub the baseboards and window sills, wipe down the walls, and remove everything from the shelves and tabletops for a thorough dusting. 

Reset your decor

When things start looking a little disheveled and out of place, the simple act of tidying up and clearing out the clutter can make a huge difference. Change up throw pillows, put out a new cozy blanket, and move the furniture around. Little resets like this can make a space feel fresh and new. 

Put some flowers in a vase 

When you bring in beautiful natural elements, it automatically elevates any space making even the most unassuming elements more inviting and purposeful. 

Display photos 

If you are renting, living in a temporary space, or not really a “printed picture person” it's easy to bypass hanging picture frames on the wall or putting framed photos on a bookshelf or side table. When you fill the walls of your home with cherished memories, you are more likely to feel more comfortable in your home. Get some command hooks and show some love to your walls. 

Invite people in 

Homes were made for people. Living rooms were made to be lived in. Dining tables are made to hold plates of warm food and good conversation. Making memories where you live right now, today is one of the best ways to appreciate your home. 

Whether it's your dream home or a short-term rental, no house is perfect. It’s all about your perspective. 

Gratitude is all about recognizing the things in your life that you have a deep appreciation for. I hope that you are inspired to show some love to your house during this time of Thanksgiving. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!