I'd like to say thanks...

Thursday 23rd November 2017 marks Thanksgiving in the United States.  The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by colonists and Native Americans in 1921, sharing an autumn harvest feast.  Nowadays Thanksgiving involves a turkey dinner, giving thanks, parades and American Football, and of course, the Black Friday sales the day after.

 Research has shown that gratitude should not be limited to Thanksgiving.  Professor Robert Emmons has researched gratitude and conducted studies involving keeping 'gratitude' journals.  He's found the benefits to be overwhelming with improvements in physical, psychological and social wellbeing.  His book Thanks!: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier documents these benefits and gives tips on how to make gratitude an everyday practice.  You can watch Professor Emmons here.
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." - Oprah Winfrey
Brother David Steindl-Rast is a Benedictine monk and a leading figure in the worldwide gratitude movement.  He’s helping to create a gratitude movement via the Network for Grateful Living through an interactive online forum.  Listen to his interview with Oprah here.
“The root of joy is gratefulness...It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” - David Steindl-Rast
So as you go about your day today try to slow down, breathe and count your blessings.


I am grateful for all my readers who share this blogging journey with me.  Thank you!


Comments

Anonymous said…
Such a great sentiment. After reading the blog I received a message from a close family member thanking me for being a part of their life. Thanks for sharing, gratitude should be a daily ritual.
24 November 2017 at 20:57
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday scones

Image
Teatime treats on a Sunday?  Scones are perfect.  Here is a delicious recipe that I got from my cousin Jenny, a legend in the kitchen.  Check out her scrumptious scones  on Instagram. Jenny's Scones Ingredients: 225g plain flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons caster sugar 55g butter 3/4 cup milk, water and 1 beaten egg mix Method: 1.  Preheat oven to 200'C (180'C for a fan-oven) 2.  Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl and add the sugar. 3.  Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. 4.  Add the milk mix and knead lightly into a soft dough. 5.  Toss with floured hands until smooth, then roll out about 2cm thick & cut into rounds. 6.  Bake for 10-15 mins.  Serve with strawberry jam and cream Sunday scones
Read more

I am not my hair

Image
This week I stumbled across 'Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations' podcast.  Oprah Winfrey was an acclaimed talk show host.  The Oprah Winfrey Show  aired for 25 seasons from 1986 to 2011.  She founded the Oprah Winfrey Network  in 2011 on which her daytime series SuperSoul Sunday  is shown.  The show includes weekly conversations with top thinkers and inspiring speakers. This month Oprah has released a personal selection of these interviews on her podcast Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations.   I've said before how much I love podcasts, and even Oprah's giving it a go, so there must be something to them!   I listened to India.Arie (parts 1 and 2).  I wouldn't say that I was a huge fan of India.Arie but I do like her songs  Video and I am not my hair .  Her lyrics are about worthiness and self-empowerment and she always comes across as a strong, not to be messed with woman.  So it was interesting to hear her talk openly about her struggles.  Her disappointment aft
Read more

Top 3 Things to do in Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Image
We recently spent 5 glorious days in Rarotonga, it was truly paradise.  On arrival at the airport we received beautiful eis of fragrant magnolias.   Me with my Ei Here are my top 3 island musts. 1.  Attend an Island Night show We went to the show at the Crown Beach Hotel in Arorangi which featured the Akirata Dance Troupe.  Cook Islanders are known for their singing and dancing and the hour long show does not disappoint. 2.  Try a Raro Buggy Tour There are several ways to explore the island.  Cars and scooters are reasonable to hire, and there is also a bus service which runs either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the island.  But this tour was the best!  Hop into a buggy for an experience like no other! 3. Muri Night Markets The Muri Night Markets are open from 5-8pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.  The Cook Islands are beautiful islands, but being islands most things need to be imported.  While food can be brought in from New Zealand, gro
Read more