The Healing Power of Gratitude
I'm in Texas today. Mom is in the kitchen preparing the turkey. Dad is in the living room listening to my daughter practice Christmas carols on her violin.
Tomorrow, my childhood home will be filled once again with brothers and sisters, cousins and in-laws, representing different areas of the country, different political views, and different faith traditions.
Thanksgiving can be, for some, a recipe for disaster. But what if we hold tight to the core intent of Thanksgiving... and focus exclusively on what we love and appreciate about each other?
- What if we outwardly give thanks for each other, vocalizing what we appreciate about each person who gathers at our table?
- What if gratitude has the power to heal past hurts and strengthen our most precious relationships?
- What if we tap into the power of thanks-giving to mend old wounds and begin again?
Research shows us what our heart already knows. Gratitude is good for us. It helps us destress. It strengthens our immune system. It decreases our blood pressure, and can even help us sleep better.
Gratitude heals us.
Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow or not, what if we leverage the spirit of this holiday to cross the chasms that sometimes separate us from the ones we love.
What if our love for each other is greater than our differences? And what if we let it show?
Wishing you a lifetime of gratitude, love and thanks-giving.
Mindy Audlin
Author of "What If It All Goes RIGHT?
