grat⋅i⋅tude

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. -- Thornton Wilder

Studies have demonstrated that gratitude is beneficial for mental health and relieves stress. No big surprise there. But how do you incorporate thankfulness into your everyday life?

Find some ways to express your appreciation for the people and things you cherish. Here are a few ideas:
Keep a gratitude journal
Create a family thankfulness collage
Write a letter to someone you appreciate

Every Thanksgiving my mom would give each person three kernels of corn. Before dinner, we would go around the table and share three things we were thankful for. I enjoyed thinking about all the things I was grateful for and narrowing it down to the top three.

Three things I'm thankful for today.
1. Taking 20 minutes to jog on the treadmill energizes my whole day.
2. Dark chocolate. (It's high in anti-oxidants!)
3. The autumn weather is absolutely beautiful.

What are you thankful for?