It is a common belief that Thanksgiving is about feasting, reuniting, and celebrating with family; although that is part of what thanksgiving entails, it includes so much more. Thanksgiving was modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the pilgrims of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. It was a party to celebrate the end of the drought and a successful harvest. At Enspire Academy we believe Thanksgiving is ultimately about gratitude. We define gratitude as being thankful and having the ability to show and articulate genuine appreciation to your teammates/family members. So we celebrate Thanksgiving with a feast of gratitude!
During the last 10 days, we have been consciously allocating a little extra time daily to practice the attitude of gratitude across all groups and teams at Enspire Academy. What did we do?
1. Showing genuine appreciation
- We took the time to specifically articulate what we were grateful for. We used clear words to describe how and why we were grateful and communicated them to the team member/intern directly.
2. Appreciating the natural beauty
-Taking a walk to your local coffee shop instead of taking your usual drive shows gratitude for your health and mobility and embracing the beauty of nature and all its wonders.
3. Being the positive force
-Assuring that those who come across you leave in better shape than they came is a special gift and one many will thank you for.
4. Prioritizing the ones you love
-Whether it be just spending time on the couch watching a movie or getting tickets to your favorite band, taking the time to spend time with our loved ones is always a sure way to show appreciation, gratitude, and togetherness.
5. Practicing mindfulness
-Mindfulness is the act of being present, and to be fully present we have to appreciate our reality. As soon as we woke up we took an effort to see things right in front of us and be thankful for them instead of grabbing the phone or getting annoyed from a night of bad sleep.
6. Sending kind words
-We never realize the impact of receiving a call or a genuine text with kind words. Something simple as, “ Hope you have a great day!”, “Thank you for being you and a part of my life”, or “Just checking on you” are small statements that hold a big impact and will make a friend or family member feel loved.
7. Sending a surprise
-Surprises rejuvenate people around us. Showing up to meet your team/family saying, "Hello!" or gifting a present to someone (remember the extravagance of the gift does not matter, it's the thought that counts.) goes a long way in showcasing genuine appreciation.
8. Give back to others
-Whether you are offering a helping hand, or giving supportive advice to those in need, being a shoulder to lean on is always a great way to show gratitude.
Though we don't need to do this only during the Thanksgiving week, we can make a start. Remember that there is so much to be thankful for, especially the little things. Showing people that we care and being a source of positivity to the people around us will bring joy to everyone. Most importantly a wonderful life starts with building the ability to encourage wonderful thoughts and actions.
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