Page 16

Gratitude Is A Great Choice for Living

(or New Thanksgiving Traditions?)

by Caron Goode

Let us serve the world soulfully. The pay we will receive for our service will be in the currency of gratitude. God's gratitude.

-Sri Chinmoy

A Choice of All Cultures Gratitude in thought, act, or expression can alter your life for the better! Gratitude is the phenomenal, singular value across culture, temperaments, and upbringing that anchors your body, mind and soul in peace. A sense of selflessness springs up as a personal motivation to continue to care, help, and appreciate. Gratitude is a choice!

Jon’s eyes watered, his nose dripped, and his head pounded in response to the swarming, yellow ragweed pollen. Every fall, he referred to the blowing yellow spores as aliens who invaded his “space,” as there was nowhere for John to walk, bike, or breathe outside.

Every April, Les lungs wheezed from a bronchitis so serious that his doctor recommended bed rest. Lying in bed for two to three weeks, Les grieved the loss of his beloved son in a pool drowning six years prior in this same month.

Uplifting Personal Circumstances

Jon decided that he couldn’t fight the environment he lived in for the rest of his life because every hour, he was telling his immune system to gear up so he was always on edge. He posted around his house index cards with a message, “I AM grateful.” Jon explained, “Every time I read it, I could feel my whole body relax and take a deep breath. Over the week, while ragweed raged outside, I became more relaxed, breathed deeper, and my symptoms disappeared.”

On the other hand, Les could see no value in the loss of his son. His grieving needed to move through its process at its own pace. His wife, however, helped by sharing her gratitude each day in different statements: “You look better today. I am glad that you take care of yourself. “I appreciate your resting today and allowing your body to heal.” “I feel our son knows how much you care for him. He watches and knows we think of him.”

In his book, Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Mariner Books, 2008) ) author Dr. Robert Emmons discovered in his depth research that gratitude plays a critical role in human happiness. He noted is that when we feel grateful, we are motivated to share the goodness we feel with others. Yet, to have gratitude and ignite the feeling within you requires the acknowledgement that we have received or benefited, as well as are entitled to the benefits or that which is shared or given.

New Thanksgiving Gratitude Traditions

This year, connect with your children and family members through shared, fun gratitude projects.

• Rising Star. Have a little Spielberg? Why not make a gratitude documentary? Film guests who share what they are thankful for and make a great keepsake that your family will appreciate for years to come.

• Story Time. More verbal children may be interested in telling stories that describe your guests and what they are grateful for. Like the above projects, have the children ask each guest what they are celebrating. Then ask them to imagine how this Thanksgiving blessing came to be. You may offer them prompts such as “When Uncle Harry was a little boy…” or “Grandma was walking down the street one day…” Then sit back and enjoy the show.

• Scrapbooking is an ideal family gratitude project. Scrapbooking encourages families to work together toward a common goal. Do you ever look through old photos and find yourself smiling at what you remember? Photographs can evoke a sense of time and place like nothing else. They can also evoke emotions and a sense of belonging. While working on your scrapbook, talk about what was happening before and after each photo was taken.

• Compose positive family portraits. Have each family member compose their own family portrait. They can be drawings or collages made from magazine and newspaper clippings. They can be actual pictures or a series of words that positively describe your family. Use these portraits intermitteningly in your scrapbook. These additions will give your family a unique snapshot of its positive image from many angles.

Enjoy the shared fun of grateful hearts. Watch for gratitude, acknowledge your gifts and enjoy the uplifting grace!

Dr. Caron Goode is an award-winning author of Raising Intuitive Children www.RaisingIntuitiveChildren.com and an inspirational speaker. Dr. Goode has become a well respected leader in the parent coaching industry as the founder of the Academy for Coaching Parents International www.academyforcoachingparents.com that trains students in the empowerment model of parent coaching. Dr. Goode has shared her holistic approach to achieving parenting success and managing family relationships in magazines, newspapers and radio.