AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE SHOULD LAST BEYOND THANKSGIVING
How to Practice Gratitude In the above quotation from Dr. Emmons, he mentions the practice of keeping a gratitude journal. This activity is a great way to start seeing the world with a more positive, appreciative eye. As often as you can, take a few minutes to write down the acts, people, and moments that you’re grateful for. Some will be big, others small — but all will have an impact on your mood and bring a smile to your face. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire book full of good memories and warm feelings. While keeping a journal is great, there are other ways to go about cultivating and expressing gratitude. The easiest one is simply to say “Thanks” whenever you can. It may seem insignificant, but you’d be surprised what a difference it makes. When you approach the world with the perspective that every day is Thanksgiving, it’s only natural to be grateful. We all have moments when we want to curse the world, especially as we get older, and those experiences are perfectly normal. Just as frequently, though, we have moments that are worth celebrating, often with people who are worth appreciating. Which will you think about more?
Taking the time to acknowledge who and what you’re grateful for is a Thanksgiving tradition far more important than turkey or football. It’s the cornerstone of the holiday and the reason we feast together in the first place. But when you really think about it, should expressing our gratitude and appreciation for others be limited to one day every year? Of course not! Why Gratitude Matters As we get older, it’s easy to succumb to negativity and pessimism — “Kids these days,” “The world isn’t what it used to be,” etc. The crabby grandparent and angry old neighbor are archetypal depictions of later life. But these fictions don’t have to be your reality. Recognizing and acknowledging gratitude will help you take stock of the positive aspects of your life and dwell less on unhappy thoughts. Being grateful has also been linked to significant health benefits. According to gratitude expert and author Dr. Robert A. Emmons, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Adults who keep gratitude journals on a regular basis exercise more regularly, report fewer illness symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future.”
WE’RE GIVING AWAY AN ECHO DOT! Here’s How You Can Win
As Brian mentions on the cover, we are giving away an Echo Dot this month to one lucky reader!
We appreciate our readers and are always striving to provide you with free, relatable, and quality information. That’s why we’d love you to take a brief survey to let us know how we can keep this publication focused on you, our readers! If you want to be entered for a chance to win a brand-new smart speaker, all you have to do is complete our survey. It’s only six questions long. Visit Gillette-gazette.com and let us know how we’re doing. You are limited to one entry per household, and we will only accept the first 100 entries. So be sure to complete our survey before it’s too late! All entries must be in by Jan. 20, 2019. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, we’ll do a random drawing among those who got their submissions in on time. The winner will be sent their new Echo Dot — on us! Don’t miss out on your chance to win by completing our survey today!
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