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BY MARIA GARRIDO - 4 MINUTE READ

As the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, it's the perfect occasion to celebrate the present and practice gratitude.

CELEBRATING WITH PURPOSE

Weddings celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in life and hope for the future. Funerals are about looking back at the past and celebrating the closure of a loved one's life chapter. This week, the United States prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving, which despite its negative colonial origins, is today a festival of gratitude, community, and harvest blessings. The celebration of abundant harvest is common around the world with Erntedankfest in Germany or Pongal and Onam in India, Homowo in Ghana, the UK's Harvest Festival or even Kinro Kansha no Hi which is a mix of Labor Day and Thanksgiving in Japan.

All of these holidays include an element of fostering gratitude for the present moment. For those of us living in urban environments, there is still good reason to mark our calendars for a celebration of gratitude, a mini-holiday we should repeat frequently throughout the year. This can be done within existing celebrations (anniversaries, graduations, retirement parties, births), using these milestone life moments to celebrate others and express gratitude for their gifts.

GUSHING WITH GRATITUDE

Last year, I wrote about how I repurposed my Jubilee birthday party as a chance to reconnect with the people who had been a part of the different chapters of my life, past, present, and hopefully future. You can read my musings about my gratitude celebration in my Birthday Blog here. The purpose of this gathering was to say thank you to the people who have meant the most to me. So, whether they were present at the event or regretfully declined, I took the time to write them all a personal letter, citing a fond memory I had of them and thanking them for the joy, love and laughter they had brought to my life.

This past month, I have found myself gushing with gratitude after several speaking engagements with young professionals organizations.  I was invited to speak about my own personal and professional journey. On these occasions, I don't do polished highlight reels, just raw truth: the challenges I've faced, the moments of self-doubt, the times I questioned if I belonged in the room, and yes, even the personal failures that felt devastating in the moment but ultimately shaped who I am. I also share the victories, both big and small, that keep me going.

As I braved through my vulnerabilities with strangers, thinking that I was there to give of myself, something magical happened- my fireside chat turned into a moment of receiving joy, tears, hugs and laughter from all of them. My heart overflowed with their kindness and the generosity with which they embraced my story. The way they looked at me with expressions of 'I have been there, too" was a gift to my soul. To the amazing young adults who joined me this past month, I am so thankful they reminded me that true leadership isn't about appearing perfect. I thank them for their smiles, tears and the solidarity we built that ultimately helps us each rise.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE THANKS

If my recent walk down gratitude lane doesn't convince you of the importance of expressing thanks, you should know that gratitude is a powerful practice that enriches both mental and physical health by fostering a more positive mindset for us all. Like my sense of meaningful connection with the young adults attending my fireside chat, every expression of gratitude strengthens our social connections; it reminds us that we are not alone in this world and that others often experience the same struggles and the same successes we do. And yet, the emotional heartwarming feeling of gratitude is not the only benefit. Thank you practices trigger physiological benefits, reducing our levels of stress and increasing our sense of contentment. Gratitude also deepens our relationships by encouraging empathy and appreciation, which in turn creates a sense of belonging and support. In essence, gratitude isn't just good for the receiver, but also for the giver, making us all a little happier and healthier.

RANDOM PERSON APPRECIATION PROJECT

Gratitude can also be a tremendously healing practice, one that brings us energy and one we look forward to repeating often. I am proud to say that my son has taught me how you can turn hardship and personal trauma and reflect it back at the world with incredible love.

After a particularly painful moment in his life, he made a decision to put in practice what he calls the "Random Person Appreciation Project". Once a week, he writes a letter to one person in his life, expressing why he is grateful for them. The reason he refers to it as random is because he doesn't plan the recipient of his gratitude in advance. Instead, he waits for the universe to send him a sign. For example, while on his way to class, he notices a stranger walk past with a bright yellow bag. This random detail reminds him of his friend whose favourite color is yellow. And so, that friend becomes the next recipient of one of his letters of gratitude. The creativity and thoughtfulness in his approach is special - like small acts of serendipity. It comforts me to know that he's living with open eyes and an open heart, finding meaning in everyday moments.

He has been consistently committed to this project for nearly two years! Every week, he takes the time out of his busy life, to sit down, reflect on a person and share his gratitude for them. I find this idea absolutely brilliant! In a world where young people are often criticized for short attention spans, he gives me hope that even digital natives can demonstrate remarkable dedication to a meaningful practice. During these nearly two years of the Random Person Appreciation Project, some people have received more than one letter from him.

Healthy self-love and recognition for oneself is just as important as expressing gratitude to others. So, once a year, he writes himself a letter of gratitude for the things he most appreciates about his own life, which is deeply touching.

As his mum, I find this project deeply moving and believe we can all learn a lot from his approach. At his tender twenty years of age, my son has already discovered one of life's most powerful truths - that transforming pain into love and gratitude not only heals ourselves but creates ripples of positive change in others. Instead of letting trauma harden or embitter him, he has chosen to channel it into something beautiful.

As a parent, seeing your child develop such wisdom and emotional depth independently fills me with a special kind of joy - not just pride in what he's doing, but amazement at who he has become as a person.

SELF CARE TIP

Like my son, we are all capable of creating something that helps us not only process our own experiences but actively contributes to making the world a kinder, more thoughtful place. Think about how you can create your own Random Person Appreciation Project , or help your children develop creative ways to transform difficult experiences into lasting and lifetime gratitude practices.

Trust me, your heart will burst with love!❤️

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

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