Thankfulness is Emotional Nourishment

“While it’s not always easy, being grateful for the positives in life can have a profound impact on your mood, outlook, and overall well-being. Here’s how to increase your gratefulness.” Quote from Gratitude: The Benefits and How to Practice it. The article is featured at Helpguide.org, and the content includes the benefits as well as suggestions on gratitude work.

While I’ve always tried to be mindful of things I should be grateful for, I’ve seldom made it a daily practice, until recently. The book I’m currently editing for a client focuses a lot on the importance of gratitude and mindfulness work, and has been a wonderful reminder to do the practice more religiously.

“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” John F. Kennedy

So, as we in the States head toward Thanksgiving on Thursday, I decided it would be good to start my week by stopping for a few minutes every morning to mention what I’m most thankful for. There won’t be daily posts here as I’ll be away from my office, but I will take a moment each morning to mention, if even to myself, something I’m grateful for.

Today, Monday, reflecting on the quote from Kennedy, there are three people I’m especially thankful for. A grandson who arranged tickets and a flight to and from North Carolina so I could be there to celebrate Thanksgiving with family who live there. Looking forward to spending time with his children, my first two great-grandchildren, so they know me as more than just a face in a picture.

I’ll be there for almost two weeks, so I’ll also have plenty of time to get to know the newest “little”, my granddaughter’s baby born last March. One of my daughters lives there, too, and I’ll stay with her. It will be good to be with her for so long as visits since she moved have always been short, and by necessity, more group affairs as there are lots of sibs for her to visit, as well as special friends she formed close relationships with when she lived her. We’ll have some quality time together one-on-one and might even get to play with her painting supplies.  

Also have to mention today one of my sons who will take me to the airport in Dallas, and most likely will be the one to pick me up when I come home. All of my kids do so much to help me, but most recently this one particular son has become my chauffeur more often then not. It is a real blessing that he is willing to do that.

My youngest daughter came over a couple of times in the last two weeks to help me with packing and organizing things that I needed to bring along. She travels more than I do and loaned me a couple of her suitcases – and a large purse with lots of pockets. We love pockets. 🙂 She also brought several very useful items for traveling – nightlights, a battery for charging my phone, a surge protector to use when I charge my laptop, and more.

In a little while I’ll be off my much anticipated vacation, hoping that the flight doesn’t stir up the nerves in my head because of the change in air pressure. Flying is always a bit of a crap shoot as I never know for sure how this trigeminal neuralgia is going to react, especially the nerves in one of my ears.

But the rest of the day I’m going to do my best to push that concern aside and focus on the three main things I’m grateful for today, as well as the excitement at having a wonderful vacation.

Whatever your plans for celebrating the holiday, my hope for you is that the time is filled with great times that create lasting memories. Be safe. Be happy.