Gratitude can be especially difficult to practice at times when you feel as if nothing is going your way. However, recently it has been coming to me pretty easily. I often find myself reflecting on how grateful I am for the people in my life. In the past six months, I have found my support system growing, and it has been really amazing to have trustworthy people to talk to because that has not always been the case. I have come to realize that those who are with you through the toughest times and don’t give up on you will end up being in your life for a long time. I never expected to meet so many amazing people in college because it has always been difficult for me to open up to people. But I am so glad that I did decide to open up. I always look forward to coming back to UMass after a break or long weekend.
One of the main reasons I am grateful is because I think of how different of a person I was before college. I have told many people in my support system how quiet of a person I used to be, and they always tell me that I never seemed quiet to them because they just met me in the past six months or year. I have really started to open up and come out of my shell, and it has led me to create memories that I never even expected to create. I am sure I will continue to make more memories and express even more gratitude up until the end of sophomore year.
Practicing gratitude has led me to become a more positive person overall. I find myself having an amazing time with friends and not always thinking in a negative way. For example, I used to put a lot of academic pressure on myself to be the “perfect student.” I now understand that there is no such thing as the perfect student. Sometimes it is okay to accept that I am doing enough and to not stress about every little grade. As a result, I am able to make time to practice self-care, go to the gym, and spend quality time with friends and family.
My goal within the next few weeks is to start a gratitude journal. This can be a wonderful add-on to my self-care routine because it will allow for further self-reflection.
Some prompts that I can use for the journal include:
- What about your upbringing are you most grateful for?
- What were your 3 best days? Write a small paragraph about each day.
- What friends are you most grateful for having? List what makes each friend special.
These prompts are relevant because one of the main aspects of my life that I am grateful for is my current friends. I think writing is a good way to express feelings such as appreciation.
So next time you are also feeling extra grateful, make sure to ask yourself: what would I write in my gratitude journal?
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