By Michele Tenney
Here’s To Your Health
Michele Tenney
A few weeks ago my husband and I are sending our youngest son off to college. While this is a very emotional time for us, we are excited about his next adventure and all that he will experience. He was given a very grim diagnosis in utero; we didn’t know if he would live.
Watching five miracles happen over a 13-month period and watching our son defy everything the doctors said about him has been the greatest gift of our lives. We are grateful for these last 18 years and continue to take inventory of how very blessed we are. An attitude of gratitude can really change how you view the world and the people around you.
Have you ever been around a person who complains constantly? They just can’t find the silver lining in life. I find it brings me down with them. Gratitude is simply a choice. Many people start a gratitude journal. However, many also abandon it after a few weeks. Gratitude doesn’t have to be confined to a pen and paper – it can be exercised in your daily life in ways that feel natural and will last.
Here are some things you can do to boost your attitude of gratitude.
Be intentional about taking gratitude pauses. Try to make it a habit of taking 30 seconds before workouts, meals or bedtime (that’s my favorite) to name one thing you appreciate. You can also take gratitude walks or hikes and try to notice three things around you that you’re thankful for. This really builds mindfulness. You can also do some gratitude sharing, like texting or emailing a loved one or friend with one thing you appreciate about them.
Sometimes I just shoot off an “I love you” text to make someone’s day. On the days you’re faced with challenges, it can be easy to concentrate on the negative. However, you can ask yourself, “What lesson or strength am I gaining here?” We can learn from the things that challenge us. Turning setbacks into growth opportunities is a learned behavior.
I’ve had to remind myself plenty of times to get up brush myself off and begin again. It’s just how life works, and we can either let the negativity win, or we can learn from it and move on.
Another good thing you can do to boost your gratitude is to put sticky notes around in spots where you see them to remind yourself of the good things happening in your life. For some people that may look like, “I’m grateful for my family,” or “I’m appreciative of my wife making dinner.” For others it may look like, “I’m grateful I paid the electric bill today.”
Gratitude is really less about recording lists and more about creating a mindset with micro-moments that shift your perspective toward positive thinking. If you practice this in small ways, it will become not just an activity but a way of living. I promise you won’t be sorry for making this a habit. Remember that small choices become small habits that become a lifestyle.
I believe in you. You got this. Start living your best life today spirit, soul and body. Here’s to your health.
Michele Tenney is a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist & Wellness Coach. She is a member of the Orange Board of Health. She can be reached at 203-668-2969 or email at Hmgbrd3@gmail.com.