“My gratitude to him is as boundless as the Pacific Ocean.” - Yann Martel, Life of Pi2.
Write a gratitude letter to someone you love
Is there someone out there for whom you feel a boundless sense of gratitude? Write a letter to this person. Perhaps it’s your mother, a friend, or lover. Pour your heart out on paper until you feel all has been said. If you feel a strong need to re-connect with someone you love, take this letter and read it to them while meeting this person face-to-face. If you’re separated by the Pacific, drop it in the post. This practice has been shown to dramatically improve one’s happiness. Feeling down in the dumps? Take an hour and a cup of tea and craft a beautiful letter of gratitude. Watch your mood change with each brush of your pen. If this feels like too much, send a simple text message to your person, letting them know why you are grateful to have them in your life.
Keep a gratitude journal
This journal is dedicated solely to the art of gratitude. Make lists, draw pictures, write poetry - anything having to do with appreciation is fair game. Every morning after you meditate, you may wish to write in your journal 3-5 things you are grateful for. It’s fun to look back and see how they evolve, although, you may find the general theme stays the same.
“Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Take a gratitude walk
Perhaps you are traveling to work, driving to the gym, or taking your dog for a morning walk. Throughout the journey, focus only on things you are grateful for. Whether you’re driving, taking a train, a bus, or walking, you’ll see so many things to be grateful for. When you reach your destination, you’ll feel much happier to move into the next part of your day.
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” - Meister Eckhart
When in doubt, practice this simple gratitude mantra at any given moment. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
And thank YOU for taking the time out of your day to read about the art of gratitude.
By Aimee Hughes N.D.
Aimee Hughes, ND, is a holistic health writer who has been traveling and exploring the world of natural health and wellness, yoga, dance, and travel for the past two decades. She is the author of a self-published vegan cookbook, “The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures in Love & Sex,” available on Amazon. Aimee is the lead writer and health consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute in Todos Santos, Mexico. [www.yandara.com]