We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia. But given all the evidence of the ย benefits of gratitude, maybe we would be happier if we did.
Last year we did a little experiment in our house and created a “thanks-giving ย turkey” so we could all add feathers of thanks until we had the fluffiest turkey ย possible. My family all liked the idea and filled the turkey plumes quickly. But ย then my daughters invited visitors to add their thanks-giving feathers, too, and ย soon our turkey was looking VERY well endowed.
Australian Thanksgiving Turkey Feathers
My feathers:
- the garden outside our window that my husband has been planting this ย weekend
- the hugs in bed from my daughters that start every weekend on a high
- slowing down and tuning in to the everyday joys of life that I now ย remember to appreciate
- my work
- love, laughter, libraries and little feet
My husband’s feathers:
- sleep
- gardening
- cooking (yep, he’s the weekend gourmet)
- date night
- our dog
My daughters’ feathers:
- hugs (yeah!)
- Noodle (our dog)
- ice-cream
- swimming
- Mummy and Daddy
- Grandma and Grandpa
What ideas do you have for getting more “feel good” value from your Thanksgiving?
Gratitude
Gratitude is one of life’s most vitalizing ingredients. Research has shown that ย practicing gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life. ย And it feels good in its own right to appreciate something we have been given!
Look at all these research backed benefits of gratitude:
Physical Benefits:
- Stronger immune systems
- Less bothered by aches and pains
- Lower blood pressure
- Grateful people exercise more and take better care of their health
- Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking
Psychological Benefits:
- Higher levels of positive emotions
- More alert, alive, and awake
- More joy and pleasure
- More optimism and happiness
Social Benefits:
- More helpful, generous, and compassionate
- More forgiving
- More outgoing
- Feel less lonely and isolated
(List is ย from Robert Emmons, “Why Gratitude Is Good.”)
No matter what your style, you can find a way to milk this positive emotion for ย all its worth. A friend and I list three things we are grateful for every time we ย walk around the local park. My children tell me WWW (What Went Well) every ย night before going to sleep. I have a daily alarm on my iPhone that reminds ย me to savor what’s good in my life right now.
May you have a Happy Thanksgiving, brimming with gratitude.
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