The Attitude Of Gratitude

Thanksgiving, the day we profess our gratitude for the bountiful blessings in our lives, has long since been surrounded by the commercial corona of Christmas with its not-so-subtle implication that life would be even nicer with a few more blessings wrapped up and waiting beneath the tree a month from now. The Thanksgiving Day parade always ends with that jolly and gentle sleigh driver in red. We see his kindly wave, and we get the message: Hurry up, Christmas is coming. He may as well be cracking a whip.

Before rushing off to that other holiday, let us linger this weekend in the gratitude of Thanksgiving. It turns out that the attitude of gratitude may itself be a blessing. A psychology professor at the University of California at Davis this year published the findings of his research that showed that people who are routinely grateful enjoy emotional and physical benefits that others do not. Dr Robert Emmons found that people who kept journals detailing the things for which they are most grateful slept better, lowered their stress levels, spent more time exercising, and were generally happier than the people in the study who did not keep tabs on their gratitude. Leave it to modern science to introduce selfishness to gratitude.

We have noticed in this community, however, that giving thanks on the fourth Thursday in November leads quite naturally to other kinds of giving. This past week, Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) and Newtown’s fire companies conducted separate and successful Thanksgiving food drives. The local chapter of the Salvation Army and The Newtown Fund are already organizing volunteer efforts to fill the needs of scores of struggling local families for Christmas. The FAITH Food Pantry and the food pantry administered by the Salvation Army and Newtown’s Social Services Department have built up their stocks to keep hunger from the table in homes facing a difficult holiday season.

Sure, there are gifts for the giver in the giving. The act of contributing to the well-being of another person has consequences that ripple out in every direction, so we should not be surprised when some of the benefit washes back on us. It’s a happy enterprise worth pursuing year-round, not just during the holidays. To get in on the giving, contribute in this season when and where your can, and consider a deeper commitment by volunteering your time throughout the year. A list of local volunteer opportunities follows.