THANKSGIVING 2021
By Robert Jones
Sometimes the world can seem like a crazy place. The concerns and responsibilities of life can weigh heavy upon our hearts and minds. Given this overwhelming human experience it is hard to make room for gratitude. It is difficult to slow down from all that is going wrong to recognize what is right. However, gratitude is the launch pad for contentment and contentment is the rocket ship to the frontier of happiness. In the words actor Will Arnett “I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”
There is a certain vicariousness that is inherent to the human experience. Each of us will become overwhelmed if we have no source aid from others. We become lost if there are no interpersonal connections with which we can give and receive. Gratitude is a thankfulness for what you have received. It is the recognition that so much of what we have need for survival and existence has been given to us often without our input or choice. Gratefulness is the moment we realize that we do not have all that we want but we deeply appreciate all that we have. With this realization, happy and joyous outlooks on life will soon follow. In fact, Harvard Medical School says simple expressions of gratitude can have lasting impact on our ability to be happy.
Life is filled with hurdles, and we can rest assured that this will continue to be true into the future. However, being thankful for every hurdle conquered will bolster our strength for the next leap. This holiday season take a moment to slow down, recognize its okay if everything doesn’t get done and express your gratitude for what you have received. You’ll recognize there are gifts all around you and that is something about which you can be happy.
