Photo credit: Doree Weller
In my family, Thanksgiving has always been all about the food. I love the filling, the sweet potatoes, the green bean casserole, and the dessert. In recent years, I’ve started to reflect on why we celebrate Thanksgiving, and it boils down to gratitude.
I’m a big believer in having a gratitude practice, and studies back it up. People suffering from depression and anxiety do see improvements by practicing gratitude daily. The holidays are a great time to start a gratitude practice, as most of us tend to see family more often during the holidays, and we’re reminded of what we have to be grateful for.
For me, the things I’m grateful for don’t tend to change much, and that’s how you know they’re valuable. I’m grateful for my wonderful family who loves and supports me. I’m grateful for my husband, who encourages me and shows me the best parts of myself. I’m grateful for my friends, especially those I consider family. Without these wonderful friends, I wouldn’t be who I am. I’m grateful for my dogs, who love me no matter what and provide constant reminders that they think I’m wonderful. I’m grateful for books and the authors who wrote them, as they’ve introduced me to worlds I otherwise never would have explored. I’m grateful that I have enough and some extra. Having enough is a wonderful thing.
What are your Thanksgiving traditions? What are you grateful for?
Doree Weller 