Saturday, September 23, 2017

World Gratitude Day

A few days ago we celebrated World Gratitude Day. We also celebrated the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Since the Jewish New Year is what sparked this blog so many years ago, I thought it was only fitting, and maybe a sign, that it was time for a bit of a blog re-boot.

I want to say a big thank you (noticing a theme yet?) to my friend Rafi, without whom I may not have decided to 'bring back the blog'. I started this blog a few years ago with the intention to write about something new I was grateful for each week for a year (hence 52 Thank Yous), and while I may not have been realistic about the frequency with which I wanted to post, Rafi reminded me that I could still express gratitude, and that if no one else at least he would read my blog (hi Rafi)!

If anyone other than just Rafi is reading this post, welcome and I hope you enjoy! Gratitude is something that I have taken an interest in and there is so much out there from TED talks to books to articles, that I thought I would share some of what I have found to be particularly inspiring, in the hopes that some of you may also realize you've got a lot to be grateful for.



I mentioned World Gratitude Day at the start of my post. According to The Huffington Post, this is a day that has been celebrated for over 50 years. That's a lot of gratitude. In reading up on World Gratitude Day, and in preparing for the re-launch of this blog, I was reminded of 3 benefits (out of many) of gratitude, and wanted to share them with you.

1. Grateful People Are Happier

  • This one is probably pretty obvious, but it would appear that practicing gratitude makes you appreciate what you have, and makes you focus on the positive instead of the negative, leading to an overall happier lifestyle.


2. Gratitude Can Improve Your Physical Health

  • Studies have shown that grateful people reportedly feel healthier and report fewer aches and pains. That is not to say that if you practice gratitude then poof you will magically never get sick again, but if that is not proof that attitude is a powerful thing than I don't know what is!


3. Gratitude Is Contagious

  • This one is one of my own theories, but it worked for me so why can't it work for you? I started to read about gratitude and acknowledge it in my own life, and now I am paying it forward to you (hopefully more people out there than just Rafi). 



I hope to continue to explore different themes within the practice of gratitude, but what about you? What are you grateful for this (belated) World Gratitude Day? Leave a comment and let me know!

Gratefully Yours,
Jaime