Gratitude and Making a Difference Season – Thanksgiving and Christmas

It is a great time of the year--my favorite . From Thanksgiving to Christmas, it is all about gratitude and making a difference for others.

Gratitude has such power.  It has such a strong influence on our lives.  When used correctly, it actually affects our health. Here's just a list of the few ways gratitude affects our bodies, minds, relationships, and life.

• Makes us happier by 10% (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)

• Improves our romantic/friend relationships (Algoe, et al, 2011)

• Makes us more optimistic (Amin, 2014)

• Reduces depression by as much as 35% (Seligman et al., 2005)

• Reduces blood pressure (Shipon, 1977)

• Improves sleep (Jackowska, Brown, Ronaldson, & Steptoe, 2016)

• Increases frequency of exercise (Emmons & McCullough, 2003)

• Improves overall health (Hill, Allemand, & Roberts, 2013)

• Lowers bad & raises good cholesterol (Emmons. 2009)

• Lowers blood pressure (Emmons. 2009)

• Strengthens the immune system (Sood, 2009)

• Improves pain tolerance (The Sports & Spinal Group, 2020)

• Extends lifespan (Boyles, 2009)

The challenge is we go through life so fast, bounding over the speed bumps of critical moments, racing for a never-ending finish line. And in doing so, we miss the opportunity for gratitude for the people and the things in life that make life worth living. And then we also missed the connection to the aforementioned health benefits. I'm as guilty as anyone else. When was the last time you just sat quietly in your car or at home, with no distractions, and thought about all the wonderful blessings that are part of your life?

And making a difference is also a part of this season. As a child, in many of our faiths, there are presents associated with the holiday season. Getting presents. But as you get older, you realize that this time of the year isn't about getting but giving. Helping others. Bringing a smile to someone else's face. That could be as close as your children as you watch them grow or as distant as unnamed faces who struggle with life's basic necessities. Winston Churchill said it best…. You make a living by what you do, but you make a life by what you give.

This holiday season, I hope you have a moment to realize the blessings and feel a sense of gratitude for whatever they might be. And in the same vein, I hope you have a chance to share those with a few other people who may not be as fortunate. I know I will try. And I also would guarantee you that life's better if we do both.