While practicing gratitude during 2021, I’ve found more in life. I am thankful for my beautiful bride Lori, our children, grandchildren, family, and friends. I am thankful for the opportunity to genuinely help clients through difficult parts of their lives … and to keep them as friends after. I’m thankful for people who challenge me with honestly held – and thoughtful – beliefs, directly contrary to my own. I’m thankful for sunrises, sunsets, the Solar Flux Index being > 100 and most importantly I’m thankful for the brief cosmic instant we get to consciously live on this spinning blue dot, hopefully leaving it better than we found it. ~ Ward Merdes
Practicing Gratitude
Robert Emmons suggests that practicing gratitude has two key components. First, it’s an affirmation that there are good things in the world. Second, it’s a recognition that this goodness comes from outside of ourselves. Gratitude leads us to appreciate things and connect to others, both of which are good for our well-being (take this well-being quiz to see how you’re doing). So how might we increase our gratitude? Ask yourself:
- Are there any positive things that have occurred in my life?
- Are there any people you are happy to have in my life?
Sometimes it can be hard to bring to mind things to be grateful for. Here are some ideas for different life domains.
- People to be grateful for: family, friends, neighbors, teachers, cashiers, colleagues, and mechanics.
- Things to be grateful for: a roof over our heads, flowers, pets, food.
- Places to be grateful for: warm sandy beaches, snowy mountains, nature, a favorite coffee shop, or other favorite spots.
- Experiences to be grateful for: walking a nature trail, zip-lining, laughing with friends, and other favorite events.
We Are Thankful
Each year, at this time, the Merdes Law Office staff encourages each other in practicing gratitude and sharing that for which we are most thankful. Even though 2021 saw the continuing challenges brought to every one of us by 2020, we each found that we all had something that inspired us to say “Thank You.”
Over the next week, Merdes Law Office will share our 2021 messages of thankfulness with you.
We hope they bring a smile to your face and a reminder that there is ALWAYS a reason to be thankful.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
Sources: Ward Merdes; The Good Men Project
