In a time when mental health is declining, showing appreciation for even the little things in life is a positive boost that everyone should embrace.
The entire point of Thanksgiving is to show our gratitude, strengthening family and community bonds. Don’t get me wrong, the food is amazing, but that’s not what the season is about.
According to UCLA Health, “A review of 70 studies that include responses from more than 26,000 people found an association between higher levels of gratitude and lower levels of depression.”
This study provides in-depth information on how practicing gratitude can reduce depression by putting the person into a better state of mind and giving them a more positive outlook on the world.
Teachers around the school embrace these ideals. Jackie Johnson, a teacher in the art department, embraces thankfulness in her classroom.
“Especially during COVID, there was a need for something uplifting for our mental health,” Johnson said, “writing down three new things that you’re grateful for every day can help increase happiness.”
Students open their journals and write down three things they are thankful for everyday before the start of the art class. The catch is that the students can’t repeat anything that has already been written down previously.
Johnson does this for the benefit of her students and ensures they can reflect on an assortment of different things and include a little bit of positivity in their day.
“It makes us think about things that you know can brighten the day, even when we might be having a day that’s maybe a little difficult, challenging, or hard,” Johnson said.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we all need to take a page from Johnson’s book and show appreciation for the things we love.
According to Grateful Living, some ways to incorporate gratitude into life is creating a gratitude journal, using meditation, or expressing your thanks to others.
When you have a quiet moment in your day, it is a perfect time to reflect on everything from the smallest successes to large accomplishments.
Trying a new strategy and keeping it fresh adds variety to your day-to-day life. It gives a different perspective on how lucky we are to have the things we do.
In the end, Thanksgiving isn’t about what’s on the table; it’s about how we share our gratitude for the things we love and appreciate.
