Thanksgiving – Sharing Gratitude
A Family Tradition
Over the last several years, our family has created a small Thanksgiving tradition. After we chow down on turkey and potatoes and before the obligatory pie, we take a few minutes to reflect on the past year.
What do we do in those minutes? Everyone at the table is given a 3 x 5 card and a pen. On the card each person writes at least three things from the last year for which they are thankful.
Reflecting and Sharing
Once the writing is complete, we do one of two things. We either read our own cards aloud or we play a little game. For the game we shuffle the cards, deal them out, then read them aloud, with everyone trying to guess who wrote which items.
How we read out what’s written on the card is not truly the point. The point is to help our family take a few minutes to reflect on what we are thankful for and to recognize that in front of everyone.
Benefits of Gratitude
For Ourselves
The Mayo Clinic has stated that “expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood, and immunity.”
But the Mayo Clinic isn’t the only place that speaks about the benefit of being thankful or joyous. Proverbs 17:22 states, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bone.”
For Others
Improving personal mental health and having good medicine seem to be excellent benefits of showing gratitude. But these are benefits that extend well beyond our own lives. Hearing positive words of thanks can encourage those around us as well. This is why we started our tradition of reading our 3 x 5 cards aloud.
Sharing Gratitude with Others
You don’t need to have 3 x 5 cards or “read around the table” this Thanksgiving. I would like to encourage you to take a moment and share some words of gratitude to a family member or a friend. Share with sincerity and watch the impact those words have on their life, and yours.
From Westlark Advisors
The Westlark Advisors team would like to share how thankful we are for our clients and the opportunity we have to serve them daily. We are grateful for all the amazing people we work with, both inside and outside of the propane industry. Our hope is that you all have many things to be thankful for this holiday season, and that you have the chance to share some of that gratitude with those around you.
Warm wishes from Westlark Advisors for a very happy Thanksgiving!
Sharing Gratitude at Thanksgiving
By JD Buss
