The benefits of expressing gratitude have long been studied. Shown to reduce likelihood of depression, increase happiness levels, and lead to richer interpersonal relationships, expressing gratitude is a worthwhile practice to add to your daily routine. Whether it is through journaling, starting the day off with counting your blessings or ending the day with recounting them; through verbal expressions, telling your loved ones your appreciation for them or sharing your joy of an experience with the people who surround you; or through meditation, concentrating on the wonders around you generating feelings of abundance, expressing gratitude can immensely change your and others’ well being.
In this article you will get to read about some of the things two members of our CHS family are grateful for as well as find tips and benefits of forming gratitude routines.
When asked about the things she is thankful for, Senior Erin Park expressed gratitude for “family, friends, and education–being able to go to school” she says, “Even if I hate it, at the end of the day, it’s a privilege… I’m also grateful for my home, my bed, and being able to eat”. With so much to be thankful for, Park stated that expressing gratitude is “a reminder of how blessed we all are, how lucky we are to be living the lives that we live”.
Finding time in your day to express gratitude can help you find and feel wonder in the mundane, in the often-dreaded routines of life. As Park expressed her gratitude, school, which she claims to “hate”, became a privilege, a thing she appreciates in her life. Expressing gratitude is often the reminder that we need to recognize the abundance in our lives.
Physics teacher Mr. Z says, sharing gratitude “makes the people around me very happy and they say it back to me, it’s kind of like spreading the niceness.”
Gratitude does not only benefit the self, but has an impact on others. Witnessing gratitude or being at its receiving end can make one feel appreciated and loved. Gratitude can serve as inspiration for others to feel abundance as well.
When asked about the things he is grateful for, Mr. Z said, “I’m grateful for my daughter. She brings me great joy, and I’m grateful for my job”.
Expressing gratitude or listening to someone express theirs puts a pause to the mechanics of life and brings forth human connection. The day I interviewed Mr. Z for this article, not only did I learn Physics from him, but I learned about him as a person: a loving father and a human passionate about their job.
Taking a few minutes in the morning to concentrate on your blessings, in your head or in a journal, can greatly change the trajectory of your days. Saying thanks to those who love and support you can strengthen your connections. In difficult times, acknowledging the good while feeling the struggle can make a situation more bearable, and solutions and hope are more likely to present themselves. Dedicating time and energy to expressing gratitude is a worthy, ever-appreciating investment that will enhance your life and the lives of those around you.
