Studies show that by incorporating a regularly scheduled gratitude into our days, we can become more positive and happier. When we look for the good, we find it and identify more of it.
Identify it.
Who and what are we grateful for? There are the big things, like food, clothing, and shelter. The necessities of life. What about clean air to breathe, and clean water to drink? Our families, friends, and neighbors. Can you get more specific? Are there people you take for granted?
Think about all the people who are just doing their job. Because they show up and do what they committed to, your life is easier. Think of the people who maintain the traffic lights and stock the grocery shelves. As much as you may dislike stopping at a red light, if there’s been a power outage and there is no light, it takes much longer. If you dread grocery shopping, you find it worse when the store is out of the items on your list.
What about your surroundings brings you joy? When you take the time to look, you might find a blue sky, a neighbor walking their dog or pushing a baby stroller. Appreciate these simple things, many of which are not universally available in our world today.
Share it.
Gratitude kept to ourselves may help our own outlook, but it is so easy to spread directly. When you share the joy of a beautiful sunset or a quote from a book which changed your mood, it helps others to see the beauty in the everyday. When you express gratitude, either verbally, through a written message, or by giving a gift, it makes a big impact on the recipient.
Even little gifts mean a lot.
A gift doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. A small gift which is unexpected can brighten someone’s day even more than a birthday or Christmas gift which may be one of many and more habitual.
Five little gifts for summertime
Cut flowers
You can purchase an inexpensive bouquet of daisies or mums from the supermarket and divide it up into small dollar store vases or even recycled jars. If you have flowers in your yard to share, all the better. Leave on your coworkers’ desks as a surprise.
A cold beverage
Bring a cup of cold water to the teen mowing the lawn or other outdoor workers. Offer to treat the pool lifeguard to a soda from the snack bar on their break.
Fresh fruit basket
Fill a small basket from the dollar store with a few pieces of fresh fruit. This makes a nice gift for neighbors or the library, preschool, or summer camp staff.
Home baked bread or muffins
Bring a loaf of freshly baked zucchini bread or blueberry muffins to the office. Wrap a loaf up in foil and deliver it to a homebound friend or to the local fire station.
Gift certificate from your local ice cream shop
Keep a gift certificate or two from your neighborhood ice cream parlor on hand as an impromptu gift. You will be ready to brighten someone’s day and support a local business at the same time.
Cultivating and expressing gratitude becomes easier with time. You will soon find that when you make gratitude a habit the joy you share comes back to you, if not directly through the person you thanked, then via the chain of positive feelings that was set off by your act of kindness.
