G is for Gratitude #AtoZChallenge on wellness

Gratitude. It should be right up there with X-Ray vision and super speed. The only problem with that statement is, that being thankful is an ability we all have. This makes it common, something that is taken for granted. Gratitude is a virtue we try to instill in our children from a young age. Nobody likes an ungrateful brat (whether that brat is “grown-up” or not). You hear about saying “thank you” in Sunday school. Heck, the Americans have an entire holiday dedicated to being thankful. Here “Thanksgiving” is something celebrated by some of the Christian churches. So, what makes gratitude so extraordinary? In addition, what makes it so important to our personal well-being?

Science versus age-old wisdom

I could tell you that scientists have researched the health benefits of gratitude. I could bore you with the medical research, which indicates it relieves stress and is good for your heart (amongst other things). Amazingly, enough science has finally caught up with age-old wisdom. To remind yourself to be thankful, you can buy yourself a customized gratitude journal. For those who blog there are weekly blog-hops dedicated to this cause! One of these is one I’ve been partaking in on and off since 2014. Seriously, Darling, it should not surprise anyone that I’m blowing the Gratitude trumpet.

The unexpected potency

I never realized how potent this thankful stuff could be. Annette Rochelle Aben first planted the seed when I listened to this podcast. She shared a powerful personal story about how gratitude helped her get up and walk, something to that point medically very difficult .

Gratitude can change our perspective to positively. Real genuine appreciation has an immediate effect. In my opinion, this makes it more valuable than using methods dubbed “affirmations or intentions”.

Gratitude can ground you in the beauty of the moment. It has the ability to bring your mind into the present. Breathing in gratitude can eliminate an anxiety attack, right there on the spot. It’s a chill pill, without the actual pill.

Pepperoni Pizza and the Dark Rider

Perhaps I just started talking Greek. Before you run off to the land of pepperoni pizza, let me explain. One night I was lying in a semi dark room tucking my daughter in for sleep. As I lay there, a terrible villain known as anxiety attacked my mind. The dark Rider had tipped his arrows in poison and was aiming for the heart. With accuracy, his vile toxin gripped its target, which started beating all the faster in hopes of escape (which is futile as anyone stuck in a similar situation would know).

Never underestimate the power of the simple breath. I sucked in the air around me in a breathing exercise of inhalation and exhalation. Annette’s story popped into my head. I intentionally started thinking about the things I was thankful for, right there at that moment. I had a warm bed into which to snuggle. I had a proper roof over my head. I was not hungry or thirsty. My daughter …

I was waging war on anxiety. It was not even ten minutes and the dark rider disappeared in a dark puff of smoke.

Real true genuine gratitude! Let it fill your heart and mind. It is a super power that can help you overcome the obstacles. Overcome the obstruction you face within your own mind. Anybody who struggles with anxiety and depression will know how valuable this is.

About the Author

Sarina often sat on the peaks of the dunes of Southern Africa watching the ocean tide drift in. A daydreamer, often dreaming up stories for lands somewhere over the rainbow. She is a mother, a wife, a blogger and an overall creative spirit. Above all, she is a human being.

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