Thanksgiving has come and gone. The turkey themed décor in grocery store aisle has now been replaced with fake snow, sparkling ornaments on Christmas trees, playfully wrapped gifts, and glittering blue and gold menorahs. On Thanksgiving, one of the trends many families observe is everyone going around and sharing what they are most grateful for. Growing up, I always saw this practice as a banal routine which stood between me and a mountain of creamed corn and cheesy potatoes. The answers always felt routine. I am thankful for friends and family. I am thankful for this meal we are about to eat.
It is important to be grateful for those things. The holiday time can be a difficult season for those who have lost family members or have strained relationships. I am thankful for my family. Families throughout the United States are food insecure and don’t know where their next meal is coming from. I am thankful that I have a place to go eat on Thanksgiving.
But choosing to express that gratitude only on Thanksgiving is where we run into problems. By only focusing on the large question of “What am I grateful for?” when gathered in a circle on Thanksgiving, we miss an opportunity for every day gratefulness. That is why I started a daily gratitude practice.
A few years ago, I participated in 100 Happy Days, a challenge where every day for 100 days you take a photo of something which makes you happy. Whether it be something big, like a birthday party thrown by your friends, or something more mundane, like a comfortable bed to sleep in, you document it. Years later I have returned to a similar gratitude practice.
Every night before we go to sleep my partner and I each list three things we are grateful for from the day. This provides us an opportunity to focus back on the day and look for those grateful moments, even when the day feels like it could not have been worse. It is a grounding feeling to bring these ideas front and center before going to bed. Throughout the day I will see something which I am thankful for and think “Oh! I will have to remember to add that to my list for tonight.”
In addition, I have also used a daily gratitude practice in order to combat anxiety. Whenever I start feeling anxious or like things are out to control, I try and pause and list three things I am grateful for. While this practice doesn’t eliminate anxiety, it provides a positive way to focus my energy and prevent my mind from spiraling in a negative way. Even on my worst day, I still have tons of things I can be grateful for
Here are just some of the things I am grateful for this holiday season (in addition to my amazing friends and family).:
People who think puns are funny.
People who are comfortable to dance like dorks on the dance floor. I am right there beside you.
Jim Dale – The narrator of the Harry potter audiobooks. You have been with me on many lunch breaks, long drives, and late nights.
When you walk into the gym and have the machine of your choice
Bars with a good beer selection and adequate amounts of seating
The smell of a new book
Candles. Broad? Yes. But my apartment smells like a freaking wonderland.
Dogs. You are too pure for this world.
Adventure cats aka feline adventurers who are much better shape than I am
The smell of rain on asphalt after a drought
A partner who (in addition to being his wonderful self) is willing to try all my experimental recipes and go on impromptu date nights
The smell when you walk into your house and someone has been cooking something delicious
Pens which work the first time you try and use them
Stars. I have such fond memories of looking at the stars with my grandfather, so any time I can get out of the city and see them my soul lights up
My camera. I love the ability to try and capture the essence of a moment. I use a Nikon D7200 and couldn’t be more happy with the quality of images and how easy it is to travel with.
The smell of campfires and fire in a fireplace
My glasses. I am blind as a bat without them (actually, at least bats have echolocation).
The feeling of being swaddled in blankets on a cold winter day. Lately I have been living under my gravity blanket which not only keeps me warm, but also helps me sleep better and alleviates anxiety!
What are you most grateful for this holiday season?
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