Today is the day when friends and family gather with no agenda other than (over)eating, catching up on each other’s lives, and watching football in a tryptophan stupor. We create our signature holiday foods and even learn about what different cultures bring to the Thanksgiving table.
I always think of Thanksgiving as a day of gratitude. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the things that mean the most to you.
The health benefits of gratitude are well documented. Expressing gratitude reduces stress, calms you down, and can improve your immune system. And you can do all of that today while eating and sharing with family and friends.
Gratitude can change your state in an instant. You can a reverse the ill effects of a stressful moment by thinking about two or three things for which you’re grateful. When you create an attitude of gratitude, you improve your mental and physical health.
So in the midst of today’s “good” stress – entertaining guests, wondering if the turkey will taste good, figuring out how you can count the desserts as zero calories – take a moment for gratitude. It will make an already wonderful day into an even better one.
I wish you and yours a day of gratitude and a wonderful Thanksgiving!
