The Season of Gratitude
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Show your gratitude this season.
During this time of year, we often forget to show gratitude. We wake up, rush from one task to the next, and collapse into bed at night already thinking about the things of tomorrow. Somewhere in the mix of it all gratitude gets left behind.
It does not stem from a lack of gratitude, we just rarely stop to notice all of the good we have. Between balancing classes, work, social obligations, and the pressure of improving everyday, many of us find ourselves just going on about our days like this is the norm. We often spend our time complaining about stressors in our current lives and worries about the future and wishing things were different. But we should consider when the last time was that we sat with ourselves for just a second to reflect on all the good in our lives in the current moment.
Many everyday blessings get overlooked from being accustomed to their presence, such as waking up in a warm bed, grabbing coffee with a friend, laughing with a classmate about an assignment neither of you have started on, or having people in your life who care enough to check in on you. These moments may seem small, but they are the ones that hold the most meaning when we stop to notice them.
College life can be stressful and uncertain.This period brings growth, change, and an awful lot of self-doubt. But gratitude can be the anchor that grounds us. When we choose to focus on what is going right, no matter how small we think it is, we can learn to appreciate what is here now.
Gratitude does not require everything to be perfect all the time. On the contrary, it is often found in the imperfect moments, the chaos of finals week, the comfort of a favorite sweatshirt, or the feeling of relief after seeing confetti pop through the screen after submitting on Canvas. It is about pausing to recognize that even when life feels overwhelming, there is still so much to be thankful for.
Practicing gratitude does not have to be time-consuming. It starts with something small, such as sitting up in bed every morning just being thankful we woke up. It could also look like taking a couple minutes at the end of each day to write down a few things we were grateful for that day that made us smile. Over time, those moments of self reflection can change how we experience each day. It rewires the brain to look for those little moments and take a mental note on them and keep them with us to reflect back when we need a little pick-me-up if something else not so great occurs that day. We can then begin to see that even in the busiest or most stressful seasons, that there is beauty in the little things.
As the semester continues to unfold and the holiday season approaches, take a step back. Pause for a moment. Think about the people who have been supportive, the mistakes we have made, the lessons we have learned, and the memories we have made. Recognize that even through the hard parts in life, there is still so much to be thankful for.
Keep this quote in mind. “Do not complain about having a lot on your plate, when your goal was to eat!” This season, let us challenge ourselves to shift mindsets and appreciate what is happening for us.