Every November, blogs and articles about gratitude flood the media. Thanksgiving is our country’s unofficial day to give thanks. It’s one of those untouched holidays. Untouched by a media push to fulfill a present requirement, Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks for anyone or anything important. But it’s a chilly mid-February and some days, it can be hard to find anything to be grateful for.
One of gratitude’s many redeeming qualities is that it has a shelf-life well beyond Thanksgiving. You can say thank you or do something gracious any time of the year. It doesn’t take a ton of effort but it goes a long way for both you and the recipient. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can be grateful for any or all people or things, and none of the importance is taken away from any of them. When you express that gratitude, others benefit. It’s like giving them a present without shopping on Amazon.
When you practice frequent gratitude, it builds up the positivity inside and permeates all you do. A great way to test this theory is to track your gratitude activity through Dailyplanit.com’s week-long gratitude challenge:
“I will practice gratitude by writing down a few things I am grateful for, every day this week in a gratitude journal. I will thank someone I am grateful for, either verbally, or with an email or thank you card at least once.”
There are also dozens of Smartphone apps to practice, journal and send messages of gratitude. If you observe Lent, this is a great time to take on a gratitude challenge.
Some health benefits have been linked to consistent practicing of gratitude, including a lower heart rate, and better sleep and mental health. The benefits of gratitude are personal and quite individual. In the blog, “When Parenting is Challenging, I Practice Gratitude,” written by Tracy Gillett, she talks about rocking her son to sleep at 3:38 AM. “Sometimes it takes a moment of darkness to shine a light on the privilege we are blessed with in being parents,” she says. “In challenging parenting moments, practicing gratitude is my savior. It flips negativity on its head.” She describes a sense of magic that comes from being what her son needs in that moment. A profound sense of intimacy is a causal effect of being flexible, positive and selfless enough to see the beauty of an opportunity.
Expressing gratitude can be a year-round benefit. It’s a win-win even on the coldest or earliest of days. Show some thankfulness to your co-workers and family and see how gratitude can make a difference in your life.
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By: Melissa Hardin Baysinger
