Has the pandemic got you down? Here are some reasons to be thankful this year and ways you can up your positive vibes amidst hard times.
10 Things to Be Thankful for This Year
Gratitude Practice in the Eyes of a Charger
Ways to Channel Your Gratitude
Gratitude can be hard sometimes. It is not always easy to pick ourselves up and focus on the good parts of our lives when we are feeling low; even when we are feeling good, we’re often too caught up in our own lives and the current moment to fully take time to be grateful for the things we have.
Despite what many may think, gratitude is actually an important part of our lives, as it allows us to live more freely and feel more connected to those around us. Practicing gratitude has been proven to promote a happier and healthier lifestyle, and can be directly affiliated with overall wellbeing. Similarly, giving thanks improves your happiness since it encourages more positive emotions, and it helps people to savor the good moments and cultivate a greater appreciation of life itself–especially when times aren’t the greatest.
This year in particular things have been quite gloomy, so why not take a look at the brighter side of 2020? With Thanksgiving coming around the corner, what better time to focus on the things that positively impact our lives?
10 Things to Be Thankful for This Year
Family
Throughout everything that has been happening in our country, for many of us, family has been there for us through it all and has gotten us through the hard times. Family is a steadfast provider of love and support–and no one knows you better than the people you spend the majority of your life with!
“I am grateful for the friends and family who have been with me this year because of all the funny and awesome memories we’ve made,” said freshman Dylan Rueda.
Our Relationships
Whether it’s a partner, a close friend or a new acquaintance, the relationships we build with those around us are ultimately what makes us who we are. Nowadays, with our in-person interactions limited, the people we do have in our lives have become a lot more noticeable and appreciated. According to several psychological studies, expressing your gratitude to people you care for can contribute to stronger relationships. Expressing gratitude for someone helps you feel more positive towards that person and more comfortable communicating openly with them. This, in turn, makes the recipient feel more connected to you.
“I’m so grateful for the friends I’ve gotten closer with these past few months because they have stuck with me and have helped me through the best and worst parts of my life right now,” said sophomore Emily Butcher.
A Home
One thing that is definitely a blessing for many of us is to have a roof over our heads, and have a place to stay and call home. With the amount of time we are having to spend away from one another, it is nice to have one’s own space and know there is a place we have to be ourselves and feel relaxed.
“I am grateful that I have my family with me, that we have good health, a home, and food, that I have friends that care for me, [and] the love and support from everyone around me,” said sophomore Abigail Villa-Reyes.
Good Health
With the pandemic especially, those of us who are healthy can be immensely thankful for our overall wellness and functioning. This unexpected year serves as a reminder that we shouldn’t take anything we have for granted and that even good health is something to be grateful for. Having good health allows us to do the things that we love, including the ability to enjoy the company of family and friends. Similarly, it should be noted that mental health is also extremely important and something to be taken seriously. Cultivating and maintaining a positive, open mindset and allowing yourself to feel good and healthy is key to living a happier, healthier lifestyle.
“This year specifically I am thankful for good health,” said sophomore Lillian Jordan, “My family and I have been blessed to remain healthy during the scary time of COVID-19.”
Technology
Current technology has allowed us to achieve new levels of expression and communication that has brought more convenience, knowledge, and connection than ever before. During the pandemic, communication using technology is often the only way we can connect with people, and it makes our lives at home much more bearable. Without things like phones, computers, and the internet, our entire society would be very different indeed.
“I am most grateful for technology because without it, we cannot stay in touch with others that live far away or with people that cannot be seen physically because of COVID-19 or other reasons,” said junior Kevin Faulkner.
Continued Education
Even though remote learning may not be the best option for most, we can still be grateful for the fact that there is free education available for people across the country. This year, teachers and administrators have worked extremely hard to provide their students with the best experience and education possible, even if it isn’t quite the same as learning in-person. With the countless hours of thought, care, passion, determination and perseverance they’ve put in, they have made our situation much easier to adjust to and better overall–so don’t forget to thank your teachers and tell them how much you appreciate them!
Work
Similar to education, another thing many of us can be grateful for during the pandemic are the jobs our parents and those we know around us still have , as they provide income but also keep people busy by giving them something to project their focus on. In turn, people keeping their jobs contributes to helping the rest of society, as it runs on people doing their parts, no matter how big or small they may be. Unfortunately, not everyone has been privileged enough to keep working during the pandemic, as many have lost their jobs, so to them we can send our hopes and prayers.
Pets
For those of us who have pets at home, animals can provide a certain kind of companionship to their owners that spreads positivity both ways; it’s proven that having a pet can relieve an owner’s stress and help them release more positive emotions. Having a pet shines a little light in our lives and provides company to those who are in need–with COVID-19 restrictions on social activity, that connection is much sought-after and appreciated!
Music
The world of music is something that many people can connect to, relate with and find solace in. Through both the good times and the bad, music can serve as an outlet or form of expression for people, which is essential to coping with challenges and stepping away from constant stressors. Without music, many of us would find ourselves at a loss, as it brings people together and allows us to feel nearly all emotions.
Exercise & Fresh Air
Getting an appropriate amount of exercise can prove as a much-needed break from the work day, and plays a major part in supporting good mental health. Now that we are cooped inside for several hours a day, exercising can both improve your mood, refuel your motivation and give you that rush of energy that just makes you feel good! Getting fresh air is also a wonderful thing; being outdoors has certain known benefits such as clearing your mind, clearing your lungs, helping you focus, giving you more energy, lowering your blood pressure and heart rate, and strengthening your immune system. Having the ability to step outside each day surprisingly helps a lot with finding your inner calm and lowering stress.
Gratitude Practice in the Eyes of a Charger
According to some Northwood students, practicing gratitude is fundamental and should be valued more by others.
“I feel that expressing gratitude is extremely important because it’s one way to express how much someone can mean to you and how important they are to you,” said Emily Butcher.
“Expressing your gratitude is very important because it helps you be more positive and build strong relationships with the people you hold close,” said freshman Fiona Xiao.
Others agreed, pointing out that we should be thankful for what we have since everyone doesn’t have the same privileges.
“Expressing gratitude is important to me because the little things that people take for granted–like clean water, food, etc.–these are things that not everyone has access to,” said Kevin Faulkner. “We should be grateful that we have these things.”
“I think that it is important to show gratitude, since it is a moment in life that you take to think about the things you appreciate,” said Abigail Villa-Reyes. “Some people may not have the same opportunities.”
Ways to Channel Your Gratitude
So how can you be more grateful? The answer is simple: you can start by taking more time to notice the small things that are good or going well in your life. There are multiple ways that people express gratitude, like telling a close friend how much they are loved or giving gifts to others.
Need a few more suggestions of ways you can practice gratitude? Here are a few basic tips besides simply giving a gift:
- Keep a gratitude journal
- Appreciate the little things more
- Practice mindfulness
- Acknowledge someone for the things they do or how they positively impact your life
- Say “thank you” to those around you more often
- Try to complain less and focus on the good in a situation
“[You] can better express [your] gratitude by explicitly telling people how thankful [you] are for them,” said Jordan, “Just sending a text or card to someone thanking them for something they did is really important to do.”
So what are you thankful for? Let us know on the Omniscient’s Twitter or Instagram page!
Article and graphics by Olivia McMurray.
