During the 1800s (pre-Confederation), settlers in Lower and Upper Canada celebrated Thanksgiving during the spring. The occasion, declared a national holiday in 1879, was observed on various dates until 1957, when Canadian Parliament determined that Thanksgiving would be celebrated annually on the second Monday in October.
For many, Thanksgiving has shifted from offering thanks for an abundant harvest to showing gratitude for the positive people and experiences in our lives. Here are five ways to practice gratitude, during Thanksgiving and throughout the year:
Create a gratitude jar
On strips of paper, record happy memories, learning moments, and whatever else makes you feel grateful, and add them to a jar (daily, weekly, monthly, or at random!). Enjoy reading a few of the gratitude notes at Thanksgiving, on New Year’s Eve, or anytime you could use a boost.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Whether you write individually, add entries as a couple, or contribute as a family…embellish the pages with favourite quotes, or drawings and doodles…there are many ways to adapt and personalize this activity!
Share Your Gratitude with Others
Consciously attending and responding to feelings of gratitude – for instance, noticing a friend’s kind gesture, and offering thanks – helps to increase optimism and strengthen our relationships. These positive effects can lead to better sleep and a healthier immune system!
Cultivate and Nurture Kindness
Replace gossip with acknowledging others’ strengths, and offering compliments and recognition where they are due. Note: there are different preferences for giving and receiving appreciation. The following article is framed in terms of the workplace, but its content can help families striving to build effective and constructive communication: 5 Languages of Employee Appreciation
Embrace the Power of “Yet”
There are things we don’t know, or are unable to do…yet. Leverage your strengths, recognize the potential to continue learning and growing, and celebrate the chance to build from mistakes.
It’s important to remember that we have individual interests and values, the things that bring joy and gratitude may differ from one person to the next, and a big occasion isn’t required to feel thankful. Celebrate whatever helps you live a happier and more meaningful life, and know that it can be equally or more uplifting to savour the little things.
By
Leigh Wood Landry
Special Needs Inclusion and Parenting Support Specialist Worker