Turn Thanksgiving Into Everyday Thanks-Living

“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness,” states the Harvard Mental Health Letter for November, 2011. The letter continues, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Beginning each day with a thankful attitude and a determination to seek out moment-by-moment blessings is a far more pleasant way to go through life, for both the thankful person and those around them. The Harvard newsletter asserts, “expressing thanks may be one of the simplest ways to feel better” and suggests practical ways to turn thanksgiving into daily “thanks-living”:

• Write thank you notes to those who have blessed you in some way.
• Keep a gratitude journal. Pick a time every day or every week to record your blessings.
• Meditate on what your grateful for: the warmth of the sun, birds at the feeder, the colors and textures in your garden . . .
• Verbalize your gratitude in prayer or to your family at the dinner table.

I hope you enjoy a few of the grace gifts I’ve shared here in photo form!

Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (daily “grace gift” seeker)