I am sitting in my spot–the favorite chair next to my faux woodstove, the enormous picture window that overlooks trees that play host to a succession of birds, footstool, dog at my feet, mug of hot coffee. I ponder the issue that we are  a people who take things for granted. We are a people who expect to have things we can stuff into our houses and storerooms. Giving thanks seems unnecessary as abundance simply falls upon us. Besides, giving thanks is too much like exercise or eating right – hard work. Giving thanks takes precious time. It sounds so religious. Let us be thankful at Thanksgiving and move on to Christmas.

So now, I think about the past year and all the changes. I am thankful for so much. There. Saying thanks is not difficult. And I feel great! No wonder, because research shows that developing a regular attitude of gratitude has many health benefits. Among the benefits (noted at WebMD):

• People who perceive gratitude as a permanent trait rather than a temporary state of mind — have an edge on the not-so-grateful when it comes to health, according to Emmons’ research on gratitude. “Grateful people take better care of themselves and engage in more protective health behaviors like regular exercise,  a healthy diet, regular physical examinations.
• It’s no secret that stress can make us sick, particularly when we can’t cope with it. It’s linked to several leading causes of death, including heart disease and cancer and claims responsibility for up to 90% of all doctor visits. Gratitude, it turns out, can help us better manage stress. “Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress,” Emmons says.
• Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic that researchers say boosts the immune system. “There are some very interesting studies linking optimism to better immune function,” says Lisa Aspinwall, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Utah. In one, researchers comparing the immune systems of healthy, first-year law students under stress found that, by midterm, students characterized as optimistic (based on survey responses) maintained higher numbers of blood cells that protect the immune system, compared with their more pessimistic classmates.

Cultivating Gratitude

• Maintain a gratitude journal. Emmons’ research showed that people who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and maintain greater optimism about the future.
• Create a list of benefits in your life and ask yourself, “To what extent do I take these for granted?” Some people need such concrete visual reminders to maintain mindfulness of their gratitude, explains Emmons.
• Talk to yourself in a creative, optimistic, and appreciate manner, suggests Sam Quick, PhD, of the University of Kentucky. This could entail simply reflecting on things for which you’re grateful or, if you’re facing a challenging situation, seeing how it can ultimately be beneficial. For instance, having to cope with particularly difficult people in your job or neighborhood can improve your patience and understanding.
• Reframe a situation by looking at it with a different, more positive attitude, offers Quick. He provides this example: Rather than seeing his 6-year-old daughter as cranky, irritable, and troublesome, a father might reach the conclusion that the youngster is tired and needs rest.

When all else fails, just give thanks. Nothing complicated about that!

May your Thursday be filled with Thanksgiving!

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