ShowYour Gratitude This Thanksgiving We all know that Thanksgiving is as much about showing appreciation to loved ones as it is about turkey or football. However, did you know that an attitude of gratitude can be beneficial to the person giving thanks? According to Harvard Medical School, “Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” With so many benefits to showing thankfulness, you should consider doing more than just saying grace at Thanksgiving. It won’t just affect those around you; it will enhance your holiday as well. Here are a few ways to demonstrate your gratitude this holiday season. DONATE OR VOLUNTEER When you have a turkey on your table every year, it’s easy to take a communal meal for granted. But there are many people in our community for whom a Thanksgiving feast is far from certain. The Franklin Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels are both great organizations to donate food to. Alternatively, you could spend the morning volunteering at a local soup
kitchen. It’s a minimal time commitment that will make a major difference in the lives of those you serve.
INVITE SOMEONE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE DINE ALONE You probably know somebody who will be spending Thanksgiving alone. They may prefer it that way, but they will definitely appreciate an invitation from your family. If they decline, there’s no need to push. A simple, “We just wanted to offer you the invitation,” will do just fine. Whether or not they show up, they’ll never forget your kind offer. GET KIDS ENGAGED Have you ever heard a child say they’re thankful for a video game at the Thanksgiving table? Well, that probably happened because they didn’t think about gratitude until seconds before their time to speak. To get the little ones excited about sharing their feelings, it’s a great idea to gamify gratitude. The options on how to create a gratitude-themed craft or game are only limited by your imagination. One easy way is to have your children gather leaves to hand out to loved ones, each presented with an acknowledgment of love.
SUCCESS STORIES
Parsnip and Turnip Purée
Inspired by Against All Grain
Ingredients
•
1 pound parsnips, peeled and cubed 1/2 pound turnips, peeled and cubed
• • • •
3 tablespoons butter or ghee
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
“I have been a patient here for lower back, knee, and shoulder therapy. The team at Professional Physical Therapy cured my back issue and has helped me come back from a serious rotator cuff injury. Their training and encouragement have enabled me to regain more function and strength than they or I expected. It has been a great alternative to surgery.” –Bob Halterman
•
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of fresh ground pepper
•
1/2 cup chicken broth
Directions 1. In a large stock pot filled with 2 quarts water, bring parsnips and turnips to a boil. Cook partially covered for 15 minutes, until fork-tender.
2. Drain vegetables and transfer to a large bowl or food processor.
3. Add broth, butter, salt, thyme, and pepper. If using a food processor, purée until smooth. If using a bowl, mash until smooth and fully combined. Serve.
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog