GRATITUDE: FOR THE HOLIDAYS & BEYOND
Thanksgiving is one of the few national holidays that is not associated with gift-buying. Rather, it has traditionally been a day to gather with family, friends and even strangers around a food ladened table to express gratitude for what we already have.
Thanksgiving 2021 was an unusual one for me. For the first time in 37 years, my husband and I were not celebrating in the same location. He was on Papa duties across the country while I was at home. Originally, I was going to pull an “AP” and have cupcakes and champagne for Thanksgiving dinner, lol. Yes, she really does that and yes, I was really going to do that. This was going to be the first Thanksgiving that I was by myself – no children were coming home, husband out of state and all my other relatives and friends had plans. While I could have joined in on their celebrations, I decided to accept this gift of “me time” and embrace the solitude. No getting up early to prepare the final dishes for a feast. I could stay in my pj’s all day, drink champagne and eat my vegan cupcakes.
Change of Plans
Then, my plans changed. While meeting with a student at the university where I work, he shared that his plans to spend time with his sister this year changed –the 13-hour car trip was too much for a three-day break. With no other plans in place, he intended to spend Thanksgiving with some friends in his dorm room. Of course, I could not have that! I asked if he and his friends would like to come to my house for a home cooked meal. He jumped at the chance. As he left my office, I offered him some gas money to help with the 45-mile drive to my house for Thanksgiving. He did not want to accept the money at first. I told him that I remembered what it was like to be a college student, and offered the gas money again. He said that no one had every done something like this for him. I was touched and grateful that I decided to invite him and his friends to my home.
Gratitude, generosity and joy
Whether I spent Thanksgiving in self-care mode, AP-style or with students from the university where I work, there were so many things to be grateful for. This is my Thanksgiving story, but I know that for many feeling gratitude for anything right now can seem like an impossible task because of the hardships they have experienced. I get that. The pandemic has thrown us all into a season of chaos. Some have lost loved ones, jobs, their health and a sense of stability. Yet, even in these hard times, gratitude can make things a bit better.
According to Dr. Robert Emmons, “research has linked gratitude with a wide range of benefits, including strengthening your immune system and improving sleep patterns, feeling optimistic and experiencing more joy and pleasure, being more helpful and generous, and feeling less lonely and isolated.”
It's true – gratitude is linked to joy and generosity among other health benefits. How? Gratitude shifts our focus from what we do not have to what we do have. It helps us see beyond ourselves and reveals how we are connected to others. A daily practice of gratitude is good for the mind, body and soul. No, gratitude will not erase the pain and hurt, but it can help to ensure we are not consumed by them.
Practicing Gratitude
Gratitude isn’t just for Thanksgiving. It can and should be practiced all year round. If you need some ideas on how to practice gratitude, here are five ideas:
Keep a daily gratitude journal. Every evening I write down at least one thing that I am thankful for that day. Sometimes the entry is short – “I’m still alive” and other times the entry fills a page. The length doesn’t matter.
Choose your words. When you have a choice, choose to write and speak words of gratitude. Now, there may be times that a complaint is necessary to bring about a needed correction, but most of the times our complaining isn’t about fixing anything – it’s just putting negative energy in the air. By choosing words of gratitude we are putting positive energy into the air.
Choose your food. Feed your body with good food in appreciation for what your body can do. Feeding your body with nutritionally sound food and hydrating fully is an expression of gratitude for the marvelous body that you have. Just think about every day your heart beats, your lungs expand with air and your body carries you from place to place – that’s something to be thankful for.
Make the time to notice what is good around you. If all you watch or listen to is bad news, we will miss the good that is in the world – the sound of nature, the beauty in art, the laughter of a child and sharing a meal with a friend. Be mindful of what you consume mentally, it will impact your body and soul.
Support a good cause. There are lots of organizations that are trying to make a difference in the world. There are bound to be several that connect with the things you are passionate about. Whether local or national, contact them and see how you might be able to volunteer your time or share other resources to help them out. Giving to others out of your abundance is a great way to express appreciation for the things you have.
If you have other ways that you practice gratitude, I would love to hear about them! Be sure to share them with us in the comments below or on Instagram, @plantbasedslay. Be sure to use #plantbasedslay so that we find you.
One final note. I would be remiss if I did not express my appreciation to the Planted Tribe! Thank you for your continued support and thank you to AP, the creative genius behind Plant Based Slay. Thank you for taking me – your mom – on this creative journey with you. This has strengthened an already great relationship!
