When I think about Thanksgiving, the first thing that pops into my mind is turkey. At my house, the whole day will be spent cooking stuffing, mashed potatoes and of course a giant turkey that we will stuff ourselves with during dinner. Due to all of the wonderful food we will be consuming next week, it is easy to lose track of the "thanks" part of Thanksgiving. Sharing what we are thankful for is not only a way to express gratitude to family and friends but is also an important contributor to our happiness.
I volunteer at Shands at UF, and it is a constant reminder of one simple, yet vital part of my life that I am thankful for: my health. I tend to take my health for granted, because it is not until I come down with an illness that I realize how important my it is.
Yet, thankfulness does not have to be about major aspects of life. It can also be about the little things that can have a big impact on us, such as a smile from a stranger when we are feeling low. Reminding ourselves of the little pleasures in life help us focus on the positive, rather than the negative. It is easy to zone in on one event that ruined our day and ignore the multitude of things that were very positive. Focusing on the positive things will make our life seem much more rich and bright.
Over the next week, try to think about the things you are thankful for. These things can be simple, such as the ability to spend time with friends or the pretty flowers outside your house. They can also be bigger things, such as appreciating love from your family or the freedom to pursue what you want in life.
Talk about these things with people you are close with, or simply say them to yourself or write them down in a journal. This exercise can be especially helpful at times when you are feeling bogged down with stress or negative feelings, which may occur often during the last few weeks of the semester. You may be surprised by how many positive things you can come up with!
Posts in Gator Minds appear on Wednesdays.
