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It’s that festive time of year again. The slight nip in the air, the aroma of wood-scented candles, the warmth of a pumpkin-spiced latte, and the crunch of fallen leaves tell us that fall has arrived. This time of the year is special. Nature puts on one of its finest displays, almost as if it is reminding us to prepare for the holidays ahead. And before you know it, we’ll be seated at a table saying grace with our families and friends giving thanks for all that we’ve received, just before we dive into the roasted turkey.
Fall is a beautiful time of year. It invites us into the spirit of gratitude and giving back. Thanksgiving is more than a yearly harvest tradition. It is a day to remember what we are thankful for, stay grounded, gather with people we love, and value one another a little more openly. It also marks the beginning of the holiday season and the anticipation of the new year ahead.
Why we need gratitude more than ever
We all move through seasons that test us. Some losses stay with us. Some people we love are far away. And still, we keep going. Doesn’t that remind us that there is something, however small, to be grateful for?
As we start planning our Thanksgiving meals and Christmas plans, we must also take a moment to give thanks and experience the rejoice in the gratitude for our lives. As animals, it is our instinct to look at the negatives in life. We have a natural tendency to sense if things seem amiss: it is part of our fight or flight reflex. Psychologists would say that it is a part of our survival instincts. Although we may no longer be outrunning a cheetah, we are still quite fixated on the negative aspects of our lives, without even realizing it. A missed promotion, a heartbreak, or even an argument can put us back for weeks. We tend to look at the glass half empty, rather than seeing it half full. It’s easier to spiral down with cynical thoughts if things don’t work out our way than to seek the positives.
But it’s never too late to pay more attention to what is good in our lives. Life, after all, is a balance of good with bad. So why wait till Thanksgiving day to express our gratitude when we could start today?
Gratitude is important because it holds the power to ground us. It reminds us that we have so many things to be thankful for which we would sometimes take for granted. By appreciating the people and experiences in our lives, and the beauty of this world, we make more room for happiness and thankfulness.
A Simple Guide to Living a Life of Gratitude
We’ve created a list of simple ways to give thanks this fall and make the gratitude last beyond one day.
A quick interlude: We’ve created Thanksgiving wallpapers as a small reminder to carry the spirit of gratitude with you. You’ll see them throughout the article, and you can find the download link below to share with your loved ones.
Donate & Contribute
The holiday season can feel especially tender for people carrying loss or hardship. If you can, find one way to contribute to those in need.
- Donate clothes that you may no longer need, instead of throwing them away or selling them. Let go of things that you may no longer use, but can be of great help to someone else. Collect old toys, clothes, shoes, home furnishings, books, etc. and offer to Salvation Army, Goodwill or your nearby donation centers.
- Consider volunteering at local organizations. Find you cause, it could be planting trees, cleaning up the beach or helping someone make their resume for a career opportunity: there are many ways to lend a helping hand.
- Donate to charities that you most relate to, here is a great list to help you, A-Z charity List. There are a lot of Covid Relief funds that you can donate to. Even a small monetary donation can make a big difference in someone’s lives.
- Donate hair whenever you’re getting a haircut. There are numerous organizations that welcome hair donations for making wigs for cancer patients. This is an easy, non-monetary way for helping out someone in need. Here is what you need to know.
- Spare a few hours and visit a nearby elderly home, animal shelter or an orphanage. Spending time with others, sharing their sorrows and joys, makes us realize the power of solidarity and fills our hearts with joy.
Count Your Blessings
The hustle and bustle of everyday life can make us oblivious to the happiness hidden in the smaller things. Keeping a gratitude journal strengthens our sense of thankfulness, refocuses us on the brighter side of life, and even has positive psychological and social impacts. Start by taking out a couple of minutes every morning or night, writing down things that you feel most grateful about. Sometimes we forget how much we have and how far we’ve come until we take a moment to pause and look. By making gratitude journaling a part of our daily routine, we make sure to acknowledge our resilience and our accomplishments. They could be simple things like morning cuddles with your kids, or a supportive co-worker. Write what you feel most thankful for that day.
You can even help your children start a journal of their own. Writing or drawing in their journal daily can teach them discipline, make them appreciative of their opportunities and even help develop empathy and creativity.
On Thanksgiving Day, read back on some of the blessings you’ve written down about in the past. These could spark immense joy and thankfulness within us and make us truly give thanks.
Here are 100 simple pleasures of life that we all can feel grateful for.
Share a Meal with Someone
Food is not just a means of survival. It carries emotion, memory, and care. Since the beginning of civilization, humans gather to share meals together exchanging their stories and experiences in the process.
This Thanksgiving, share a meal with someone in need. It could be a new neighbor, or someone living away from their family, or someone who is struggling to make ends meet. Prepare a meal (even a simple meal would make a difference), and offer it to them. This can reduce leftovers or waste and brighten someone else’s day. You could also offer help at a nearby soup kitchen on Thanksgiving day, and share the festivities with others in a more meaningful way.
Spend Quality Time with Loved Ones
The love, warmth, and support of our friends and family play a big role in shaping us. Carve out time for those you love, spend time revisiting old memories with your siblings, catch up with an old friend, take a trip home and surprise your parents if you can. Be vocal about how much you value their support and admire their efforts.
Appreciate your partner for all that they do for you; plan a staycation with your kids, look at old photos, go for bike rides, bake with them or make DIY turkey crafts. There are several ways to create beautiful memories with them that they will cherish forever.
Appreciate Yourself
After all, this day is about giving thanks for everything we are grateful for. Give yourself some much-needed TLC by getting a massage, or sleeping in. While you plan the day making sure everybody’s plates are full, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back too. Spend some quality time with yourself doing what really makes you happy: paint, run, dance, or sleep!
Show yourself some love (not just by retail therapy), by centering your thoughts and meditating. You could also write a letter to yourself, reminding yourself of everything that you’ve impressed yourself with. Even when we are surrounded by people who love us, we still need to offer ourselves the care we deserve. That self-respect can deepen our relationships with those around us.
Appreciate Nature
Witnessing a sunset, hearing the sound of waves, digging toes through the warm sand, or the first snow: nature never ceases to amaze us. No matter how tough things might get, spending just a few moments in nature can heal us and make us feel rejuvenated. As the seasons shift on Thanksgiving, don’t forget to witness the changing color of the leaves and the hint of winter in the air. Give thanks and reconnect with nature by planting a tree, installing bird feeders, playing with animals at any local shelter, here are some other ways to pause, reflect and reconnect with nature.
Tip Generously and Pay It Forward
Leaving behind tips is not only a gesture of expressing gratitude but also acknowledging the effort someone made for us. Random acts of kindness make someone’s day special. At a diner or restaurant, pay a larger tip to your server, leave a thoughtful note of appreciation; write a positive review for them. At a toll booth or your coffee shop, pay for the person behind you. These are simple ways to spread the cheer around you.
Words of Appreciation
We’re all on a journey. Life tests us, challenges us, and rewards us. We all have our good days and bad days. However, a kind gesture from someone on challenging days can be a ray of hope. A few words of appreciation for people who’ve helped us can be a thoughtful gesture to say thanks. You can compliment them for a job well done, or show your support by helping them. Leave a note expressing your gratitude towards them, send them a small token of appreciation, and don’t miss a chance to say thanks to them in person. Simple, heartfelt words don’t require much but can have a deep positive impact on someone’s life.
Remember Someone Who Is Missing
Thanksgiving can bring an empty chair into sharp focus. We may be grieving someone who died, missing a loved one who lives far away, or simply feeling the distance that life has placed between us. You don’t have to hide that sadness to be grateful. Both can sit at the same table. This week, choose one small way to honor the person you miss. Cook their favorite dish, place their photograph near the table, tell a story about them, or call them if you can. Invite everyone to share one memory or one thing they appreciate about that person. Gratitude isn’t always cheerful. Sometimes it is the quiet act of saying, “You matter to me, and I remember.”
Care for What Already Serves You
The holidays can make us feel as if gratitude must arrive in a gift bag. We see sales everywhere, fill our carts, and forget the quiet things that already support our days. You don’t have to buy something new to honor what you have. This week, choose one useful object that has served you well and give it a little care. Mend the loose button on a favorite coat, oil the cutting board that has held years of family meals, clean the muddy shoes that carry you through winter, or repair the chair everyone gathers around. Take ten unhurried minutes and do the job with your own hands. It is a small practice, but it turns gratitude into stewardship. Sometimes appreciation looks like helping something last.
With so much going on in the world today, we all need a dose of kindness, love, and lots of gratitude. Although the idea of giving thanks just one day may not seem enough, it is sure to spark happiness within us. Let’s take Thanksgiving as an opportunity to express our gratitude until it becomes a habit.
In praise and celebration of life. Happy Thanksgiving. Salud!