Happy (almost) Thanksgiving season! In the spirit of going around the table and sharing things we are grateful for, I wanted to write about how to express gratitude. It can be hard some days to find things to be thankful for. Hopefully this list will give you some ideas on how to practice expressing gratitude this season!
- Think about the little things
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Coming up with things to be grateful for can be hard when your life isn’t super dramatic. A lot of times what comes to mind are big milestones or accomplishments (“I ran a half marathon!”, “I passed my classes!”, “___ made a full recovery from ___!”, etc.). Take some time out of your day and think about the smaller things that may have happened to you. This could be a stranger smiling at you, someone holding the door, or even just nice weather. There is always something to be thankful for.
- Don’t sell yourself short
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Be grateful for yourself. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to #humblebrag. Get excited about your good grades! Be thankful for your dedication that led to your awesome accomplishments! You are strong and have accomplished so much, so why not toot your own horn and celebrate a little?
- Be thankful for others
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If you have a friend, family member, or loved one who has made an impact on your life, let them know! Gratitude is such a great gift to give to someone, so why keep it all to yourself? (This is a good go to for the dinner table btw)
- Negative + Negative = Positive?
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In my opinion, everything happens for a reason. If something bad has happened to you or effected you, just think about how much stronger it has made you. Having a positive outlook on life is something to be grateful for. Even though bad things happen, being grateful for the experiences and good moments that have followed is something to be proud of.
- Back to The basics
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This is sort of a Thanksgiving staple, but be grateful for the things that you have. Think along the lines of: food, a home, family, friends, clothes, etc. Expressing gratitude for these basic needs is something so humbling. I think that everyone should do this to really put perspective into your life.
- Furry (or scaly) Friends
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If you are like me, pets are a very important part of life. Pets stick by you no matter what and can be the best of friends. Be grateful for your furry (or scaly lol) friends this Thanksgiving season!
- Let them eat cake!
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This could go hand in hand with the basics but if you’re like me, food is an important part of life. Be thankful for that Thanksgiving pie, mac and cheese, and turkey!
- Your favorite music artist
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Think #sadgirlautumn (thanks Taylor Swift). Lots of artists have been dropping albums recently and I for one, am VERY grateful. This Thanksgiving season be grateful for music and the way it makes you feel. And also stream RED (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift and 30 by Adele for a happy (but also sad) holiday.