Giving Thanks & Practicing Gratitude!

What is the last thing you do when you lay your head at night, or the first thing when you open your eyes in the morning?

Giving Thanks

We recently celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada, but I found it hard to post this while there is war and innocent lives being lost due to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.  People around the globe are being affected both directly and indirectly and it’s a sad time for many and it must be recognized.

My friend posted something the other day along the lines of: “You may not know what to say to your friends and acquaintances during this awful time.   Just simply say I’M HERE”.  I have, and it is great advice that is well received so I’ll say it here again, I’m here!

I also want to send love out there to anyone who was not around family, or it was the first holiday without a loved one.  Holidays can be sad for some and a trigger for many so sending big love your way.

Growing up in South Africa, Thanksgiving was and still is not observed as a holiday, and I found out that it’s the same for many immigrant cultures.  It’s something we adopted and embraced since coming to Canada.  At least this is the case with my family.  I mean, food and getting together with family and friends to “break bread” is a big part of holidays and celebrations in most cultures and yes, I know it’s not just about the food and  I’m aware of the history – this is not a history lesson so go take a read.

Thanksgiving can also symbolize other milestones like going into a new season, showing gratitude for all that was accomplished for the year to date and of course giving thanks for healthy friends and family around us.

Taking It Way Back

To go back even further, our Indigenous brothers and sisters were giving thanks before the declaration of a national holiday (a.k.a. Thanksgiving) the second Sunday in October.  To them it was celebrating their harvest and thanking Mother Earth for providing them with that they needed and in turn, they learnt how to show respect and care for it, so it could last for generations to come.  This tradition can be said to be true for many Indigenous tribes and cultures across the globe and likely dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years!

Practicing Gratitude

Regardless of culture and the reasons we’re thankful, giving thanks and practicing gratitude daily is what I want to touch on here.

Being thankful is an expression of your gratitude and making that a practice builds long-term relationships – with ourselves and with others.  It is an act of self-love and self-compassion and in turn it can be immensely rewarding.  Practicing gratitude consistently helps us appreciate the things that truly matter in our lives vs focusing on the obstacles and/or setbacks or just the material things.  It helps us stay focused on our own goals vs comparing our progress to others.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg friends.

So, how can we practice gratitude or get into the habit of doing so?  The first thing that comes to mind (and it’s not a new concept) is a solid morning routine.  Example:  Wake up, water, meditate, stretch & journal.  It doesn’t have to be exactly that or in that order but staying disciplined to something that simple does have benefits.  Need more?  Here are some other ideas to get you going – there is some overlap so take what you need from it:

Write it down:

• Start with one or two things you’re grateful for and add to it daily.

Say it out loud:

• Whether it’s to yourself or to others. Simple phrases – “I’m grateful for all the things my body is able to do” or “I’m grateful for all you do” or simply “I see you”!

Give credit where it’s due:

• Recognize someone’s input or contributions, especially in the workplace or on a team. If someone worked hard or went the extra mile, it costs nothing to acknowledge them.  Many people forget but it goes a long way.  Many of my clients leave a class or session and say, “I appreciate you Shireen” and not going to lie, it makes my heart happy!

Actions speak volumes:

• People appreciate and respect those they can depend upon. Whether it’s taking something off another’s to do list, helping with dropping off or picking up kids or simply being on time!  It shows respect for you and them.

Meditate:

• First thing in the morning or before bed at night. Sit with yourself and your thoughts and even after a bad day, or as I call it – a character building day – you can and will find the good and give thanks.

Be kind:

• To yourself and to others and it costs nothing. Being a good, selfless person is rewarding.  Ever see pure, true joy and appreciation on someone’s face and you had something to do with it?

That last point is probably THE most important one.  Just my opinion as well as lived experience.  First, being kind to yourself and loving yourself is selfless.  Second, in the words of the famous and fabulous Ru Paul: “if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love someone else?”  Same goes for being kind – in words and deed.

So why not start right now?  Write down one thing you are grateful for in this moment.  If you don’t have a pen and paper, say it out loud and say it a few times over if you need to.  I’m in the moment too so here goes: “I’m grateful for my physical and mental health.”

These are just a few thought starters I’m sharing but there are many more ways to practice gratitude daily.  If you’d like to share yours, please do so in the comments section.  I’d love to hear from you.

Stay strong and stay beautiful friends!

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