365 Days of Thanks
It never gets old – every year around this time, we’re told to “give thanks” for everyone and everything we have. We have an increased awareness of how lucky we are and how much we have to be grateful for.
It’s easy to get caught up in challenges or obstacles we might be faced with at any given time. But more than that, it’s easy to forget how to still be thankful come January, once the holiday cheer has slowly faded. Reminding ourselves periodically of as many positive things as we can, as often as we can, has a significant effect on our happiness and our quality of life.
Here are some ways you can achieve a lasting feeling of gratitude.
It’s easy to get caught up in challenges or obstacles we might be faced with at any given time. But more than that, it’s easy to forget how to still be thankful come January, once the holiday cheer has slowly faded. Reminding ourselves periodically of as many positive things as we can, as often as we can, has a significant effect on our happiness and our quality of life.
Here are some ways you can achieve a lasting feeling of gratitude.
- Make a nightly list. At the end of each day, write down everything you are thankful for. Or simply run through everything in your head as you’re getting ready for bed. It can be anything – your family, your friends, your health, your job, your education, your home, your car, etc.
- Humble yourself. It could always be worse. If you’re feeling like the world is against you and everything seems to be going wrong, volunteer some time with a local charity group. You’ll quickly see the hand that others are dealt and feel lucky you have the life that you have.
- Laugh. “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose,” Woody Allen. Sometimes one way to put everything in perspective is to embrace humor. Go to a comedy show or listen to a comedy station online at a website like Pandora.com (type “comedy” in the search box and listen for free).
- Express your gratitude. Consider everything – even the little things – that others have done for you. Tell them how much you appreciate them and see if there’s anything you can do to help in their lives. Much of what we’ve accomplished is in part due to the help from others and it’s important to recognize those who have supported you.
- Appreciate your challenges. “Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss,” Ralph Waldo Emerson. The obstacles in your life are what make you stronger. Without them, we’d have no measure of success.
Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin
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