Gratitude is good!

The practice of gratitude and giving thanks for the blessings and happy moments you experience each day can actually improve your life! According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can actually make you healthier; the many benefits include:
• Reducing stress levels
• Improving resistance to colds
• Reducing the risk of coronary artery disease
• Improving breathing in patients with some lung diseases
Gratitude feels good! As we approach Thanksgiving, let us take the opportunity to remember to practice giving thanks and gratitude for all that we have… for faith, family and friends, for feasts and fellowship. Let us be grateful for quiet moments and happy days, for sunshine and blue skies, star light, rainy days, bird song and the wonder and beauty of nature.
You may recognize a few lines of this message from previous years, however as I reflect, I find that though much has changed, much remains the same, especially in terms of our core values.
Let us be grateful for our world at large – modern conveniences and automobiles, air conditioning and heating, microwaves and smart phones, and yes, grateful that we live in the good ‘ol USA. Thinking about a bigger view, I realize that we as a country really have much to be thankful for and we continue by most measures to be the greatest country in the world. We live with an amazing level of comfort and freedom compared with many other places and times.
Comparing notes to 2012’s Thanksgiving message, I find that we as a nation continue to thrive. I believe that tough times make us stronger, smarter, and build our character. As I talk with people in our communities, I continue to hear efforts to be better savers and better personal debt managers. There is a ‘getting back to basics’ attitude and fresh looks at what is really important to us. It feels like we’ve learned, or re-learned, valuable lessons. As a nation, we always bounce back and show great resiliency.
You may be in a place of contentment today, or not. Either way, here are some thoughts on practicing gratitude and expressing your thanks:
Thanksgiving Morning Gratitude
Take a few moments of quiet time on Thanksgiving morning, before popping the bird in the oven and beginning the cooking marathon. In those quiet moments write down those things you are grateful for. It’s a wonderful way to begin this special day, and year to year you will find your gratitude’s change a bit, but you’ll also find that much stays the same.
Thanksgiving Dinner Gratitude
Have each family member write down something they’re grateful for on a little slip of paper and collect them in a bowl. At the dinner table, take turns pulling out a note and reading it out loud and see if you can guess who wrote what – this can be meaningful, perhaps an expression of love for family; it can be just pure fun, my son is grateful for bacon!; or any number of things – if nothing else, it can make for great conversation!
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Whether daily, weekly, or even randomly, write down things that you are grateful for—a beautiful sunset, a warm home, companionship of family or friends. Only positive thoughts allowed here!
Practice Mindfulness
Eckhart Tolle is the author of a wonderful book titled, ‘The Power of Now.’ He states, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” The goal is to observe your thoughts without judgment. This is a practice used by many with serious illnesses to help manage stress and keep positive.
In closing, an old Cherokee tale… A grandfather is telling his grandson about a fight that is going on inside him. He said it is between two wolves. One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, fearful thinking, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith. The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The grandfather replied: “The one I feed.”
This Thanksgiving as we enter the holiday season let us be reminded of the value of simple gratitude. Let us celebrate our good fortunes and be grateful for the true and simple blessings in life: our freedoms, a roof over our heads, warm clothing, ample food, warm hearts, and most importantly our faith, families and friends. Gratitude is good! Here’s to your health!
Kristi Ellington is a registered representative with ecurities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions in this material do not necessarily reflect the view of LPL Financial.