You know, one of the things we do here at Opp Chiropractic during our weekly team meetings is to go around the room with each staff member mentioning one or two things we are thankful or grateful for. I think that exercise is a great way to remind ourselves of what’s important in life. There’s something powerful in saying what we’re thankful for, out loud, in front of others.
I think that to feel truly grateful, you don’t just run through a checklist of all the good stuff in your life, you need to examine the actual meaning of being thankful. How does being thankful make you feel? It’s definitely a better feeling than whining about what we don’t have. I look at it as a positive reinforcement.
Being thankful for family and friends also means examining your relationships – what you get and what you receive. How do these emotional exchanges enrich your life?
Most historians agree that the first Thanksgiving was held by Pilgrims in Virginia, in October 1621, to celebrate their harvest. These were people who migrated to a new land and built a new life. They couldn’t spend a lot of time complaining about what they didn’t have, they were just trying to survive. The Pilgrims had to make their own way, and they simply couldn’t waste a lot of time feeling sorry for themselves – they had to be tough, resilient, self-reliant and hard-working in order to survive.
Continuing to use toughness, resilience and self-reliance will still stand us in good stead when making our way in the world today, almost four hundred years later. I also urge you to try a little gratitude and be thankful for all you do have! You may not believe it, but scientific studies have even found that focusing on what you do have, instead of what is lacking, improves your health!
A good time to do that is when first waking up in the morning. Even before you get out of bed, take a moment to count your blessings. If nothing else, be thankful that you woke up at all! Then promise yourself you’re going to make that day the best day you can. Give it a try, I think you’ll be pleased with how you feel!
-Dr. Tom, Chiropractor