Gratitude

 

Last week, on Thanksgiving, we in the US collectively reminded ourselves to be grateful. Gratitude is powerful. It’s known to impact our health, both mental and physical. Studies show that practicing thankfulness lowers stress levels, depression, and anxiety. Focusing on what we have rather than what we lack shifts our perspective, and increases resilience to stress. A study from UC Davis found that people who regularly practice gratitude have fewer aches and pains and generally feel healthy and even sleep better.

Gratitude also plays a role in creating happy relationships. Expressing appreciation fosters a sense of mutual respect and understanding, fortifying the bond between you and your spouse/partner, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, et cetera. It goes without saying, it helps in raising happy children.

As we sat around our table on Thanksgiving day, the subject of “the first Thanksgiving” came up. Someone who had visited the village at Plymouth, Mass, where the Pilgrims’ life is reenacted, said, “It wasn’t easy. They didn’t have stoves to cook on.” The conversation veered into, “Could we survive if we were transported back to that time?” We began to itemize what we have today that would be very difficult to do without. Such a list is never-ending.

On an everyday basis, though, it’s easy to find things to appreciate. My partner Ron and I have a bedtime ritual of stating three gratitudes each. They range from the sublime: “I’m grateful I woke up this morning,” and, “I’m grateful for this beautiful autumn day,” to the ridiculous: “I’m grateful I didn’t have a flat tire while running errands today.” (If I’ve had a bad day, that’s sometimes the best I can do.)

We find that doing this does put us in a better frame of mind, and the more grateful we are, the more content we are. I recommend it.

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* Quote variously attributed.