Believe it or not, we are entering the holiday season and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. One of the best things about the month of November is that the world seems to pause for a second, and reflect on the things for which we are most grateful. In my family, Thanksgiving is the most important holiday because it is the one time of the year that we can all be together, reflect, share stories, and express our gratitude for each other. Given the uniqueness, the challenges and the unknowns of 2020, some may have difficulty finding things to be grateful for, myself included. This year has been hard for most. But one thing I am grateful for is that 2020 forced me to find creative ways of staying connected to my friends and family. Most of my family are in different states and video technology (Zoom) has allowed me to virtually “see” my family so much more than just once a year on Thanksgiving. I think to myself that no matter how difficult this year has been, it is as fitting as ever to find something to say “thank you” for. – Hunter
YOUR LIFE
This month is National Gratitude Month, and this November is one of the harder years to be grateful. Yet, we still have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes it just takes starting with the simple things in life first, to set your mindset right. Like waking up to a warm cup of coffee, sunshine, a good night’s sleep or a hot shower. Personally, when I come back from traveling outside the U.S.A., that is often when I realize how lucky we are to have all the niceties in life. With this freedom to enjoy and express oneself, divisions among even the closest of families and friends may occur. My hope for this November is for us to be grateful for the small things that we often take for granted. Especially in this year, when some of our luxuries have been taken away, it is important to focus on the positives and appreciate all the good that we still have. What are some little things throughout your day that you enjoy? Take a minute to think about it. If you skip a step in your routine or don’t have access to something, how does it affect you? While a cup of coffee or a nice shower may not seem like much, taking the time to appreciate these little things can genuinely improve our level of happiness. – Jason
YOUR LEGACY
With the world affairs these days, and the amount of change we are all forced to experience, it’s easy to be negative. Thinking positive can be hard and when it’s needed the most, it can be even harder. An easy tool that can shield negativity and change your mood is “practicing gratefulness.” The simple act of thinking of positives in your life and feeling grateful for them can do wonders for your mental health. In an article from Harvard Health Publishing they note, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” I have read that sentence a few times and every time, I find myself thinking, “if the results are this positive, why don’t we all do this every day?” For me, and maybe others, it can be hard to “do the work.” Like anything you want to be good at, you have to consistently practice including gratefulness. Writing out three things you are grateful for before bed is shown to increase happiness and improve sleep. Thinking or actually telling someone about how much you appreciate them can have a positive impact on well being. Every morning on our office call, we each say one thing we are grateful for to start the day with good intentions. For me, I vow to practice this even more. I already feel better just thinking about it. – Travis