Hey! I have An Idea!

Due to my wife and I staying very busy with selling our home and the process of moving as well 
as the restrictions the "virus" has brought, I missed almost all of the fall foliage color this year.
But I'm thankful for the few images I've been able to make near my home. (click to enlarge)
Nikon Z7; 70-200mm f/4 G lens @ 200mm; 1/200th sec. @ f/10; ISO 1100

Today, in the U.S., it is Thanksgiving Day.  This is the official day we, as Americans, set aside to be thankful for all of the blessings and good fortune that have come our way.  Very honorable concept, indeed.  But here is my idea.

What if we all decided, starting today, that we would be thankful and grateful everyday?  There seems to be an awful lot of hate, intolerance and vitriol in today's world.  If we were grateful and thankful everyday, maybe some of that would go away.  Now, that is a radical thought!  Or maybe not.  Maybe being grateful and thankful has some benefits to us?

According to Psychology Today there are at least 7 scientifically proven benefits of living a thankful and grateful life.  Here is what they list:

1. Gratitude opens the door to more relationships. Not only does saying “thank you” constitute good manners, but showing appreciation can help you win new friends, according to a 2014 study published in Emotion.

2. Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than other people, according to a 2012 study published in Personality and Individual Differences.

3. Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.

4. Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, even when others behave less kindly, according to a 2012 study by the University of Kentucky.

5. Grateful people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.

6. Gratitude improves self-esteem. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that gratitude increased athletes’ self-esteem, an essential component to optimal performance. Other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs—a major factor in reduced self-esteem—grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.

7.  Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma. A 2006 study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of post traumatic stress disorder. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience following the terrorist attacks on September 11. Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for —even during the worst times—fosters resilience.

If you look on the Internet you can find additional articles that will give you even more reasons to be grateful and thankful each and every day.

My philosophy is simply this.  I try to live a thankful and grateful life every day.  I feel as though I've been blessed in many ways that I haven't deserved.  No matter how bad this year has been, no matter what comes my way in the form of misfortune, bad luck, illness or other unfortunate circumstances, there are an awful lot of people around the world that have things much worse than me.  I try to be thankful for all that I have, grateful for all the blessings that have come my way and don’t worry so much about what I don’t have.

I hope you will take me up on this.  In the meantime, I hope you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving today and...

I want to say I'm grateful and thankful for each and every one of you who read and comment on my blog!  You are making a difference in my life.

Join me over at my website, www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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