It’s Lent – a time I usually ‘give something up’ or, in more recent years, do something positive for the world.

This year, for me, it’s a conundrum.

We’ve all given up so much already because of the virus, and it’s so difficult to do something positive for others with most of the world in lockdown.

I still want to mark the Lenten season in some way and want a positive way to do it.

So what’s the answer?

Thankful in a Pandemic

Well the blog title is a bit of a give-away.

I’ve decided to mark each day with a period of reflection on something for which I’m thankful.

40 days of unique things that I’m thankful for in a pandemic – I love a challenge!

The first few days will be easy.

My lovely husband and four fantastic kids will take the best part of a week – it will be lovely to focus on just one of them each day to remind myself what beautiful human beings they are.

Once I’ve got past the easy stuff what then?

I could cheat and focus on my wider family – I’ve got 60+ cousins so that would be a doddle.

But that would miss the point.

Macro and Micro

My intention is to focus on different areas of my life and at different levels – macro and micro.

For example, I can be thankful for my lovely garden or for a particular plant within it: the snowdrops that herald a new beginning.

I anticipate that along with that thankfulness will come an urge to do something for others or the planet, and rather than being a random donation or deed, it will be rooted in my gratitude.

For me, that will make anything I do far more meaningful.

So here’s to 40 days of thankfulness – I’ll let you now how I get on!