Gratitude – it’s not just for Thanksgiving! Gratitude expert Antonia Albany shares thoughts on staying grateful in difficult circumstances. Her insights remain as relevant this year as they were when originally shared.
Even during COVID, with stories of hardship and loss impacting our state of mind, the power of gratitude does not fade. It remains a strong ally to surviving and flourishing regardless of world events.
Gratitude can positively impact your health.
Studies show that cultivating gratitude can lift all areas of our lives, especially during scary and uncertain times. It can even improve immune response, particularly important for older adults vulnerable to COVID-19.
How to Stay Grateful
Gratitude can help sustain a positive attitude, keeping us energized, healthy, and hopeful, while leveling out daily emotional swings. Here are some easy ways to acknowledge gratitude in your life:
- Start today: Jot down a few things you’re grateful for, and expand this practice daily.
- Say it out loud: Express gratitude, even for mundane things, and find ways to share it with others.
- Be committed to gratitude: Look for the good in all situations before expressing negativity, fear, or anger.
Remaining vigilant and letting gratitude protect you during this time is essential. When you go out, try to imagine every mask featuring a kind smile and use your eyes to convey support to all you encounter.
Your Turn
How do you stay grateful for your life and circumstances, even when facing challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments – and Happy Thanksgiving!
Antonia Albany is a writer and the author of Golden Grace: Embracing the Richness of Our Later Years. She is a gratitude expert who lives in Northern California with her three-legged cat, Kali, and blogs at The Joy of Aging Gratefully. Antonia shares her personal experiences of aging with gratitude in additional books The Other Side of the Hill: Celebrating Our Later Years and In This Moment: Making the Most of Your Senior Years.
Photo by Artem Sapegin on Unsplash
