An attitude of gratitude. It’s what Thanksgiving is all about and it’s what makes this time of the year so special. I cherish it because while I am always grateful for the many blessings in my life, Thanksgiving encourages me, as it encourages all of us, to say it out loud! To be thankful, to take stock and to celebrate and share our appreciation for everything in our lives that is good and for which we are grateful.
An attitude of gratitude. It comes easily to some and according to researchers it comes most easily to seniors. This doesn’t surprise me because seniors (even young seniors) have the benefit of life experience. They’ve got perspective. They know that life has its ups and downs and that there will no doubt, be some really tough stuff to deal with along the way. But more than any other age group, seniors also recognize that a lot of good stuff happens along the way too. And for that, they are grateful.
I think that in many ways, gratitude is a gift you give yourself. And it’s a gift that keeps on giving. I’ve been doing some reading on the subject and I found a great letter posted on the Harvard Medical School website that confirms everything I believe to be true. It states that ‘in the relatively new field of positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently linked to greater happiness. Expressing gratitude helps people feel positive emotions,
relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships’. How’s that for testament to the benefits of cultivating more gratitude in our lives!
This Thanksgiving I will, as always express my gratitude for all the good things in my life. I’ll tell all the good people in my world, just how much they mean to me, and I’ll be lifted up and happier by doing it. Gratitude. It’s a blessing in itself.