November is considered the “National Gratitude Month” as it includes Thanksgiving which is a holiday that celebrates the harvest and good fortune of the early settlers. It was established and formally recognized in 2015 by Stacey Grewal to encourage people to practice gratitude for the improvement of their mental and physical health. It’s a good time to reflect on the good things in life, be grateful for what you have, and to appreciate the people, experiences, and blessings that bring us joy.
Why is this important? Doing so has many benefits such as reducing stress, increasing happiness, and enhancing one’s well-being. Focusing on the positive allows us to appreciate the little things and find meaning in everyday moments. Through acts of gratitude, not only do we lift up our own spirits, but we also inspire and lift up others.
Here are some ways to practice gratitude.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE:
We can all use more positivity and gratitude in our lives. The more you practice it, the easier it will be. Try out one or more of the following ways to express gratitude.
Gratitude Journal
Starting on November 1, keep a daily journal throughout the month of whatever you are grateful for. Have each person in your family keep their own journal or have everyone use the same journal. At the end of the month read over all the things that you appreciated.
Gratitude Wall
Similar to the gratitude journal, making a gratitude wall can help you see at a glance what everyone is grateful for. Hang a sheet of paper or posterboard on the wall on which people can write their blessings.
Gratitude Jar
As an alternative to a gratitude journal, perhaps you’d like to create a gratitude jar. Get whatever kind of container you want – jar, can, or even a shoebox – and decorate it and place it in a central place with little strips of paper and pens so that you and your family can write out your blessings.
Gratitude Tree
If you are crafty, you can make an actual gratitude “tree.” Place a branch in a vase and have everyone write out their blessings on cut-out paper leaves. Either glue the leaves to the branch or use a hole puncher to punch a hole in the leaves and thread a ribbon or string through them to hang on the branch. Use this as a centerpiece at your Thanksgiving table.
Whichever method you use, remember whatever you write can be big or little. For example, “I’m grateful for getting the job I wanted” or “I am grateful for Sonic ice.” It’s whatever you appreciate that is important.
GRATITUDE CRAFTS:
Table of Thanks
Cover a table with white or brown wrapping paper and let everyone write or draw things they are grateful for. This could even be done at the Thanksgiving table. Or put a cut-out paper leaf or a simple sheet of paper at each table setting and before the meal have everyone write out their blessings.
Chain of Thanks
Remember when you were in school and you made that interlocking chain with construction paper strips for Christmas? Do the same thing for your blessings. Cut out colorful strips of paper and have people write out their blessings on them. When done, staple, glue or tape the strips together forming a chain. Save the chain and then drape it around your Christmas tree. Or hang it on the mantle or display it in some way with your Christmas decor.
Thankful Collage
Gather up photos of your favorite people, pets, places and things or anything that you like and post them around your home. For the crafty, turn them into placemats.
GIVING BACK:
Make a point to express your gratitude for what you have by giving back to those who have less. This can be done in a number of ways.
Volunteering
Volunteer work is a great way to give back. Serve meals throughout the month at local shelters or take up a collection of canned goods and non-perishable items at your workplace to donate to a food bank. Serve Thanksgiving dinner to the hungry before going home to eat your own meal.
Do you have skills that others could use? Use them to help out the community. Are you a whiz at math? If so, look into tutoring students struggling with geometry. Are you bugged by the trash along the beach? If so, grab a trash bag and pick up the trash. Recruit others to do this with you.
Donations to Charities
Let’s face it, we all have stuff. Probably more stuff than we should have. If you have any toys or clothing or household items that are in good condition, consider donating them to the various organizations around town that collect them. Cooler weather is coming. Have extra blankets or coats you or your kids have outgrown? Donate them to someone who may not have the proper essentials to keep warm.
And don’t forget our furry friends. Shelters always need supplies. Put up a collection box at your workplace or at school. Check out the website of whatever organization you’re interested in to find out what items they need the most. Also check with your local veterinarian office for items they may need.
For any charity or organization, if you cannot donate material items, donate your time or make a cash donation. Give up your daily coffee or treats for a month and use the money you would have spent on them to make a donation to the animal shelter, or to the Wounded Warriors Project, or to the American Heart Association, or to whatever organization or cause that means something to you. Send a donation to a local school with a note to use the money to pay for outstanding cafeteria balances. If you see kids running a neighborhood lemonade stand, stop and buy a drink. Buy a raffle ticket from children fundraising for their sports team.
Extend an Invitation
If you know of someone who will be alone for the holiday, invite them to join you. Or, if you are going out for Thanksgiving dinner, invite them to come along. Extend invitations throughout the year as well.
Be a Good Neighbor
Offer to help a neighbor with a chore or to run errands for them. If you have older children, perhaps they can shovel snow, mow the lawn, or even bring up the trash cans to help out. Have a neighbor with an overactive dog? Offer to walk the dog around the neighborhood for them.
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE GRATITUDE:
Practice Mindfulness
Do something every day of the month to practice mindfulness. Mediate daily at whatever time works best for you. Read a daily Bible verse or spiritual passage to bring you a sense of peace and gratitude.
Share Your Gratitude
Since we live in the age of social media, if you are so inclined, share each day what you are grateful for on whatever social media platform you use.
Gratitude Games
Turn off the electronic devices and engage the family in playing games to express their gratitude.
Some games include:
Alphabet Thanks: Name something you’re thankful for with the letters of the alphabet. For example: “A: Aardvarks” “B: Books,” and so on. To make it even more interesting, have each person use the same letter and say what they’re thankful for without repeating each other.
Gratitude Stacking: Take a sheet of paper and write out the word “grateful” with the letters on top of each other in a column. Much like the Alphabet Thanks game, have everyone write out something they’re thankful for starting with each letter in the word grateful.
Musical Thanks: This is the same concept as musical chairs. Pass around an object like a ball or stuffed toy while playing music. When the music stops, whoever is holding the object shares what they’re thankful for.
Expressing Appreciation to Loved Ones
Reach out to loved ones and express your appreciation for having them in your life, whether by a handwritten note, a phone call, a text, or a personal conversation.
Sending Thank-You Notes
Phone calls and conversations are nice, but there is something about a handwritten thank-you note that is special. Send a note to anyone who has made a positive impact in your life. Taking the time to write a heartfelt note to someone lets them know that they are important to you and they are appreciated. Get your children started early in the practice of writing thank-you notes. It’s a great way to teach them the value of expressing appreciation. Remember, nothing is ever too small to thank someone for. Your kind words can brighten their day and could possibly create a ripple effect of gratitude.
Random Acts of Kindness
Performing random acts of kindness is a good way to spread gratitude and an even better way to make a positive impact on the lives of others. These unexpected acts can be done for family, friends, or strangers. They can range from simple gestures like offering to put up someone’s shopping cart after they’ve unloaded their purchases into their car to volunteering in the community. Other examples include paying it forward at the drive-through, bringing doughnuts for everyone at your workplace, or complimenting a stranger.
AFTER NOVEMBER – MAKING LIFETIME GRATITUDE HABITS:
Practicing gratitude should last throughout the year, not just taking place during November. By frequently practicing gratitude in our daily lives, we create a more positive outlook on life and on the importance of appreciation of one another.
Daily Gratitude
Start or end each day by reflecting on one or more things for which you are grateful. Note them in whatever manner you want – be it a journal or even in the notes app on your phone.
Continue with the Gratitude Journal
Keep a gratitude journal or jar throughout the year. Note whatever you appreciate or are grateful for. It can be something as simple as a beautiful sunset or a compliment from a friend. At the end of the year read over everything and acknowledge how truly blessed you are.
Acts of Kindness
Do an act of kindness every chance you can. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just something as simple as holding open a door for someone or helping a coworker clear a paper jam in the copier.
Thank You Notes
Send a thank you note for anything someone did or does that makes you happy. Whether it be for a gift, a favor or for someone just being in your life.
Thank You Challenge
Challenge yourself to find something every day that you can thank someone for. Thank your child for putting up the laundry after the millionth time you asked them to or thank your coworker for clearing that paper jam at work.
Start a Gratitude Ripple
Practicing gratitude for others can have a ripple effect. When others see you doing it, they may be inspired to do the same.
Share with others the different ways that they can practice gratitude. Let them know about keeping a gratitude journal or giving back. Teach them about playing gratitude games or collaborate with them on creating new games.
There is always something to be thankful for, and this list is by no means intended to be all-inclusive of things you can do to practice gratitude. There are so many more ways in which to show your appreciation for what you have and for the people in your life. Challenge yourself and your family to come up with new ways to appreciate their blessings. Start in November and by Thanksgiving you will be well on your way to making expressing gratitude a habit. Not only will it benefit you and your well-being, it will also have the same effect on others.
No act of kindness or expression of gratitude is too small. Its benefits outweigh the costs of whatever you choose to do. And, if you have any doubts about whether or not practicing gratitude is worth it, just remember the words of motivational speaker Zig Ziglar: “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express it, the more you will have to feel.”
