11-22-2019

Mary’s Minute

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

                                                                                ~ William Arthur Ward

What if there was a magic pill that could make every day feel like Thanksgiving, our jobs always make us happy, and turn ordinary things into extraordinary?  Like every diet pill I have ever tried, it sounds too good to be true, but gratitude is that silver bullet.  

Committing ourselves to a life filled with gratitude is truly a way to a happier life.  Research shows that we cannot process negativity and gratitude at the same time in our brain, so if we are actively practicing gratitude, we cannot be negative.  Research also shows that people who express their gratitude to others are happier – and not just in the moment, but the happiness lingers for days.

As we approach Thanksgiving – a holiday that many of us say is our favorite – our hearts are focused on gratitude.  I think that what most of us like about Thanksgiving is the simplicity of the holiday.  The focus is on family, food, and gratitude.  So what if our goal was to keep life that simple – to focus on gratitude (and of course family and good food!)?

Making every day Thanksgiving, sans the turkey, is a way to live happier lives.  We truly can transform our lives through the simple act of gratitude!  By the way, I am grateful for all of you!

                                                            Happy Thanksgiving Week!

                                                                        Mary