For many years, I have been a big fan of Gratitude–giving thanks to others for what they have given me over many years. Speaking of gratitude, I am grateful to the staff of Minnesota Good Age for giving me this opportunity to share some reflections on gratitude.
I have been struck that we as a country only celebrate five major holidays as a nation. There is New Year’s Day as we celebrate the beginning of a New Year and the hopes that it will be a very good year. There is Memorial Day, on which we remember those who have given their lives in service of our country. There is the 4th of July holiday on which we celebrate our country’s struggle for freedom over the years. There is Labor Day, acknowledging the importance of our labors in building a country. And there is Thanksgiving, in which we give thanks for the many gifts we have been given individually as well as a country. As I stated in the title of this article, I see giving thanks as more than just a holiday–it is more like a way of life for every day of the year!
There has been much research on the positives of giving thanks, and a fellow by the name of Robert Emmons has done much research on people of all ages. One of his books is Gratitude Works! A 21 Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity. His conclusion is basically that having a regular practice of giving thanks leads to lives that are happier and healthier. This is true for people of all ages–from the very young to seniors. Being a senior myself, I find a challenge facing us as we age is losing important people in our lives–through death, illness, people moving away from us or we move to a new place, as well as we become more limited in our aging. First, I want to say that developing a practice of gratitude can be challenging for seniors, as well as being very rewarding.
Our aging doesn’t mean that we can forget about being grateful. It could really be that it is even more important for us to be committed to being people of gratitude. So, no matter how old we are, we never outgrow our need to be grateful. One reason for this is as we age, we feel less positive about our lives and what is happening. Being committed to give thanks to others continues to bring the positive into our lives. Remembering someone’s generosity or giving thanks to someone today can bring some positivity to our lives. We need all the positivity we can get these days!
Another very easy way to develop a practice of gratitude is in one of two ways that I have found helpful. First, either at the beginning of the day or at the end (or both), take a few moments to recall people to whom we are grateful. Be aware of them. The second way is a little more work and that involves keeping a gratitude journal and each day writing down the names of people for whom we are grateful and/or reasons that we are grateful. Either way is a way to give thanks and can allow us to remember people who are no longer close by. I remember my parents, people who helped me, especially when I was struggling and in need of a lifeline, my wife and many friends.
I would encourage you to find ways to show gratitude and develop a practice of giving thanks to others. Giving thanks can help us name positives that are taking place in our lives–that our lives are not all negative and filled with losses. Such a practice can be a source of hope for us and can help us find ways to help and support others. It is within your possibilities to celebrate Thanksgiving every day by thanking somebody. Lastly, I am grateful to you for reading this article.
Mark Scannell, a senior, enjoys sharing ideas on aging and belongs to a number of groups where he is able to give thanks for all that these folks give him. This reminds him of the importance of him but also to give thanks to others for what they are giving him.