THE DAILY BLADE: Give Thanks, Get More To Be Thankful For
Studies suggest that “[a]dults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not” and “[k]ids who feel and act grateful tend to be less materialistic, get better grades, set higher goals, complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches ,” reports The Wall Street Journal:
"The key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table," says Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California-Davis and a pioneer in gratitude research. And, he notes, "with the realization that one has benefited comes the awareness of the need to reciprocate."
Philosophers as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans cited gratitude as an indispensable human virtue, but social scientists are just beginning to study how it develops and the effects it can have.
The research is part of the "positive psychology" movement, which focuses on developing strengths rather than alleviating disorders. Cultivating gratitude is also a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which holds that changing peoples' thought patterns can dramatically affect their moods. …
Being grateful also forces people to overcome what psychologists call the "negativity bias"- the innate tendency to dwell on problems, annoyances and injustices rather than upbeat events. Focusing on blessings can help ward off depression and build resilience in times of stress, grief or disasters, according to studies of people impacted by the Sept. 11 terror attacks and Hurricane Katrina.
Editorial Note: Whether your Thanksgiving table includes turkey or spiral ham, green bean casserole garnished with French’s French Fried Onions or Cajun fried okra, pumpkin pie or pecan pie, The Stiletto hopes you enjoy the pleasures of a well-cooked meal and the company of your family. And whether you say grace or just observe a moment of silent contemplation before digging in, take the time to remember all the things for which you can be grateful just because you’re an American born with certain inalienable rights given to you by your Creator, which are enumerated and enshrined in our Constitution. And give thanks.
For their part, The Stiletto and her family are very thankful that they are spending another year observing the holidays as caregivers instead of as mourners – and for the dedicated team of therapists who have worked tirelessly and wholeheartedly to ensure that their loved one has been able to live at home instead of in a long-term care facility and continues to make progress - however slowly - towards recovery.
Obama Pardons Jive Turkey
Just like last year, President Barack Hussein Obama found another jive turkey to pardon.
In Memoriam
William Self, June 21, 1921 - November 15, 2010
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