Practicing Gratitude

Thanksgiving won’t feel the same this year. As recommended, I won’t be gathering with extended family; I find this difficult, but I also want to keep everyone safe. We will keep our close contacts to the members of our household and try to maintain a few traditions (like making pumpkin pie) and add new traditions (like virtual socials). I am sure your plans for the weekend don’t look the same as they would on most Thanksgiving weekends, but one tradition that I hope we can maintain is reflecting on the things that we are thankful for.

 

I am grateful for the fall colours -- they are stunning! I am thankful for family and friends. And I am feeling particularly thankful for our successful first month back at school. This success has been a team effort, with each member of our community playing a role in keeping us all safe, healthy and learning at school.

 

To be honest, despite all that I have to be grateful for, remembering to reflect on what I have instead of what I am missing out on has been challenging lately. I need to be more intentional about the practice of gratitude. Studies have proven that there is a link between gratitude and well-being. Gratitude can make you happier, improve your relationships, and even improve your overall physical health and sleep patterns.

 

One way to intentionally practice gratitude is to keep a daily gratitude journal. Journaling about the things you feel grateful for can not only improve your well-being, but can help to get you through rough patches when they arise. As Dr. David Tranter mentioned in his sessions this year, the things you are grateful for do not have to be profound -- they can be as simple as enjoying a piping hot cup of coffee, slipping on a pair of cozy socks or sitting in the sunlight to read a book.  

 

I hope you find something to be thankful for this weekend, even if it is not something you would have expected. Thank you for taking the time to read our Life @ Greenwood and continuing to stay connected as a community and share in my gratitude for the Greenwood community.