So often when we talk about Thanksgiving, the predominant themes are food, family, and yes, football. These are wonderful things (well, maybe not football — but to each his own), and sharing them with loved ones makes this day extra special. What can get lost in the gravy, so to speak, is the “thanks” in Thanksgiving. Especially now, with so much turmoil in the world, thinking about or expressing gratitude can feel really hard.
I want to remind readers that there is always something to be grateful for. And I need this reminder, too, because it’s too easy to get trapped in the negative and forget to acknowledge the positive. Too many times I wonder, is the world going to be OK? Yet, I’m pretty sure that every society throughout time has wondered the very same thing. Being a human isn’t easy — no matter the century.
Back to gratitude. What keeps me grounded is to remind myself about the good things in my life. Some of the things are big like my very happy marriage (almost thirty years!) and connecting with family; some are small like finding an acorn on the ground or receiving an unexpected head butt from one of my cat boys. The point is that giving thanks doesn’t have to be limited to Thanksgiving — find joy and gratitude (big or small) whenever, wherever you can.
- “The Gratitude Prescription: Harnessing the Power of Thankfulness for Healing and Happiness” by Will Pye.
- “The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days” by Kate Bowler.
- “Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything” by Mark Batterson.
- “The Power of Thank You: Discover the Joy of Gratitude” by Joyce Meyer.
- “A Spoonful of Gratitude: Tips to Reduce Stress and Enjoy Life to the Fullest” by Najma Khorrami.
- “Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted” by Kristi Nelson.
