Gratitude - A Healthy Activity

Gratitude….A Healthy Activity

Gretchen Rubin author of “The Happiness Project” recommends keeping a one sentence journal that has entries for five years.  The positive effect of remembering good memories and reflection over positive things for those years can be very powerful.

Wikipedia quotes,  “Gratitude has been said to have one of the strongest links with mental health of any character trait. Numerous studies suggest that grateful people are more likely to have higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress and depression." Source: McCullough, M. E., Tsang, J., & Emmons, R.A. (2004) and  Wood, Alex, Stephen Joseph, and Alex Linley(2007)

So, in our interaction with seniors it might be beneficial to allow them to reflect on what they feel gratitude for.  It allows them to relive positive experiences and emotions but it also allows us to learn from them the true value of things toward the later part of one’s life.  Putting together memory books, picture stories and oral histories will allow us to share in their joys and gratitudes.

The reason I bring this up is the experience I had today.  I visited a new facility today that opened in the area and saw many fellow colleagues in the healthcare arena.  What  I am most grateful for  is their continued support, friendship and encouragement.  They are a remarkable group of professionals that represent some of the best companies that deliver quality services to seniors.  Sometimes our services compete and sometimes we are complementary services; nevertheless, they still reach out to share, encourage and extend their friendships.  I wanted to let them know today that their mere mention that they have read and enjoyed my blog was a gift and I am truly grateful for all of them. 

Yoga recommends reflecting every morning on what we are grateful for.  It sets the tone for the day and allows us to start energizesd and positive!  So tomorrow morning I will reflect on the day today and how grateful I am to have so many positive and supportive colleagues in my life.