Thanksgiving is over, but that doesn’t mean we can forget about making a special point to say thanks.
That’s what we’ve all been doing the last couple of days, with the holiday reminding us that it is the right thing to do to say thank you.
But of course we shouldn’t need Thanksgiving to remind us of that. There’s always something to be grateful for.
In fact, it is not only a good thing to say thanks more often, it is also good for our mental and physical health.
Studies have shown that being grateful can help you fall asleep faster. And it can even help strengthen your body’s immune system and lower your blood pressure.
And there apparently is evidence that being thankful and keeping a record of what you are thankful for can help you even more.
A study in the Journal of Applied Psychology, says that keeping a journal of things you are grateful for helped those in the study worry less and sleep longer and better. A report by the UC Davis Medical Center says people who are grateful have 10 percent lower systolic blood pressure, 23 percent lower levels of stress hormones and 25 percent lower dietary fat intake.
Like most things that we would like to do better, being more thankful is a choice, but it takes a commitment to do it.
As that old adage says, make gratitude your attitude. And chances are, you’ll be thankful you did.
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(Photo taken at Redeemer Round Rock Church in Texas by C.E. Albert)