With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I’ve been thinking a lot about expressing gratitude on This Special Day and throughout the year. After all, giving thanks is what the holiday is all about. We know that people who feel gratitude and express their appreciation to others tend to be happier and healthier.
Although we should all practice an attitude of gratitude every day, we often forget to do so. We get wrapped up in the busyness of life, tending to family, home, and careers, rushing around so much that we can barely catch our breath. We tend to focus on our problems and all that is not going our way rather than on our blessings and all that is working for us.
A Personal Thanksgiving Tradition
For as long as I can remember, I have loved Thanksgiving Day. Our holiday celebration included my entire immediate and extended family—parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and occasionally some family friends. Although our drive from New Jersey to Long Island was never fun, the enjoyment of our time spent together far exceeded the discomfort of holiday traffic.
A lot has changed over the years. The older generation is no longer with us. My siblings and I laugh and tease each other that we are now the “older” generation. Many have married, children have been born, and some have moved too far away for us to be together all at once. I now travel to California, and the holiday dinner table has new family members.
Although I miss the family members I no longer see on Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful that we spent so many years together. The memories are priceless. I don’t take for granted that I have been blessed with an inclusive, large family who were together in years past. Some from past years celebrate without us, and we rejoice with some new. However, the holiday is always and continues to be a joyful family experience. I know not everyone can say that.
I’ve considered some special ways to celebrate this year and give thanks, and I’d like to share them with you. What better time than Thanksgiving Day to stop and spend a few moments acknowledging all that we have to be grateful for and all that surrounds us on this special day?
7 Meaningful Ways to Show Gratitude on Thanksgiving
1. Connect with Loved Ones Far Away
Call a relative or friend who is far away to say “Happy Thanksgiving.” If you have loved ones with whom you can’t be on 
Thanksgiving Day, pick up the phone and call them. No emails, not through Facebook or text messages! Let them hear your voice when you say, “I am grateful to have you in my life.”
2. Share Your Blessings with Others
Share your blessings with those less fortunate than you. If your plans allow you the time early in the day, consider visiting a soup kitchen to serve meals to those in need. Alternatively, you could consider donating your Thanksgiving leftovers to a local homeless shelter.
3. Offer Help to Your Host
Ask your host or hostess what you can do to make the day easier. Even if told everything is under control, an offer to ease the load will show you appreciate all they do to make the holiday special.
4. Bring a Personal, Thoughtful Gift
Rather than bringing the typical hostess gift, get something personal. There are just so many cake plates any one household needs! When you show up with something personal that will pamper the host, they know you understand the work and effort it takes to assemble the holiday dinner.
5. Begin Your Meal with Gratitude
Start a tradition of beginning the meal with gratitude. Start a tradition of beginning the meal with gratitude. Choose something personally meaningful to your family. For some, it will be saying grace. For my family, each guest can say what they are most grateful for. This simple act of expressing gratitude on Thanksgiving creates meaningful moments that guests will remember for years to come.
6. Send a Handwritten Thank You Note
Send a handwritten note expressing thanks to your host family. We all remember to say “thanks” as we walk out the door. We may even send a quick email message the next day. The handwritten note is a lost art, and taking the time to write and send it not only gets noticed but also shows your gratitude is heartfelt.
7. Honor Those Serving Our Country
Send a holiday message or package to our servicemen and women. If you are blessed enough to be surrounded by 
family and friends on Thanksgiving Day, don’t forget that many men and women serving our country are not. You can send a Thanksgiving message through http://www.USO.org or a package through https://www.operationgratitude.com/.
The Lasting Benefits of Gratitude
By expressing gratitude on Thanksgiving Day and every day, you will not only make those around you feel great but also boost your own health, happiness, and well-being.
