The cold fall wind pierces through your peacoat as you approach your dorm building. Your hands cower from the weather in the safety of your coat pockets. The mere thought of touching the icy metal to open the door sends a chill down your spine. Suddenly, someone on their way out of the building holds the door for you. With a simple “thank you,” you enter the warm embrace of central heating.
Most of us would appreciate this moment for about five minutes and then carry on with our day, harping on the difficulties of school, work, and family life. Yet, when we take the time to fully appreciate small (or big) demonstrations of kindness, life radiates with positivity rather than darkening with every inconvenience.
Photo Credit: imgur.com
Our parents and guardians instruct us to be thankful from a very young age. “Say ‘thank you,’” the mother urges her teetering toddler after his aunt gives him candy. The choir of “thank you” sings as children exit the school bus. But what we all seem to miss is being thankful beyond words.
Being thankful beyond words means not just saying “thank you,” but truly feeling thankful. Thankfulness is a wonderful emotion to experience. It is like the warmth of being hugged by a loved one with the happiness of seeing an old friend. Thankfulness is important to fully appreciate because acts of kindness and compassion are especially rare in a world increasingly consumed by technology and misunderstandings.
Photo Credit: flickr.com
One way to feel thankful is to put yourself in another’s shoes. When doing so, we often are able to understand how another understood our circumstances and chose to help us. The key word is “chose.” Another fellow human decided to show us compassion when we needed it. Recognizing that others care for you not only feels awesome, but helps you care for others as well.
Another way is being thankful for everything you experience. Every moment and experience has value. Each friendship, each accomplishment, even each failure has lessons just waiting to be learned. When we appreciate the value of everything in our life, we can learn to appreciate how everything in our lives helps to better us in one way or another.
Even though Thanksgiving pushes us to be thankful, it’s important to be thankful all year long. It strengthens our relationships by increasing our compassion for others, enhances our sense of self in knowing we have the power to help others, and gives us the confidence to make a life for ourselves in a world that is not scary but rather full of lessons.
Being thankful is a joy to feel and a gift to give.
Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, and read our latest Tweets!