For some of us, December is the hardest month of the year. I wrote this vulnerability inducing post in 2011 – If You’re Feeling A Little Low on the Ho Ho Ho. and two years later, I still wrestle with the holiday blues.

As a kid, I adored Christmas. Loved the feel of the sugar cookie dough beneath the snowman cookie-cutter, the frost on my eyelashes after a day in the snow, and the smell of the mandarin orange in the bottom of my stocking. I dreamed of the day when I would carry on these traditions with a family of my own.

Although I am incredibly grateful for my life, the holidays have often left me channeling my Inner Grinch. Envious of the “perfect” lives of friends and family, irritated by the pressure to act jolly when I didn’t feel it, and disappointed about flying solo to Christmas parties and holiday dinners – December brought the frustrations of my life into sharp focus.

But, not this year. On December 1st, I made an advent promise to myself to #startfresh. Instead of focusing on what my life isn’t, I would find moments to feel grateful for what is. Rather than burying my holiday blues under a pound of advent chocolate, I would take a picture each day to represent a moment I felt grateful for.

By approaching each day seeking moments of gratitude, I have had more moments to be grateful for. From feeling an instant connection to someone I met on a flight, to appreciating how lucky I am to have my toes in the sand and my feet on an icy trail (in the span of a week), to having friends and family join me in using the hashtag #gratefuldec to share their photos on Facebook or Twitter, I am feeling the holiday glow for the first time in a long time.

“That’s the gift of gratitude. In order to feel it, your ego has to take a backseat. What shows up in its place is greater compassion and understanding. Instead of being frustrated, you choose appreciation, and the more grateful you become, the more you have to be grateful for.” ~ Oprah

The more grateful you become, the more you have to be grateful for. I love that.

If you want to join us, we’d love to see your pictures! All you have to do is snap a photo of a moment you’re grateful for and then share it on Facebook, Twitter, or even create your own Pinterest Board. You don’t have to participate every day – or even at all – this is simply about having fun and leaning into more moments of joy. By using the hashtag #gratefuldec, you can connect to other people participating in our #adventofgratitude on Twitter and Facebook.

Here’s to a season full of joy and more gratitude all year long!