Q. I’m writing to you as a senior who is feeling rather down around Thanksgiving this year. While the holiday season has always been a time of joy and togetherness for my family, recent changes in my life have left me feeling somewhat disconnected and melancholic. Thanksgiving used to be a time of gathering with loved ones, sharing stories, and expressing our gratitude for each other. Today, Thanksgiving looks much different as family members have moved away and gatherings have become smaller. This shift has left me feeling lonely.
Throughout my life, I’ve always appreciated the importance of gratitude. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family and countless precious memories. However, as the years go by, I find myself dwelling on the things I no longer have, such as lost loved ones, declining health, and the closeness of my family. These thoughts often overshadow the many reasons I have to be grateful, especially as we’re about to enter the holiday season.
I’m reaching out for advice on how to incorporate more gratitude into my life during this special time of year. How can I refocus my perspective on the blessings that I still have in my life? How can I cultivate gratitude beyond the Thanksgiving season?
A. It takes great courage to acknowledge when we’re feeling down and discouraged, I appreciate your vulnerability and empathize with how you’re feeling.
As we grow older, we’re faced with the dilemma of embracing the new chapter ahead of us or clinging to the familiar comforts of the past. While there’s nothing wrong with remembering the past and reminiscing about the good ol’ days, if we linger too long, we miss the blessings our current season of life has to offer.
Gratitude allows us to acknowledge the past while also being present in the moment. Below are a few ways you can embrace this new chapter with a sense of gratitude during the Thanksgiving season and beyond.
Express your gratitude regularly. Reach out to family and friends, even if they’re far away, and let them know how much they mean to you. A heartfelt letter or a simple phone call can go a long way in strengthening connections and keeping the spirit of Thanksgiving alive year-round.
Another way to establish the habit of gratitude is to practice mindfulness. At its core, mindfulness is focusing on the present moment and cultivating gratitude around that moment. Spend a few minutes each day in quiet reflection. Acknowledge and appreciate the small joys in your life at this present moment. Whether it’s a ray of sunshine shining through your window or the warmth of a blanket wrapped around you, practicing mindfulness can help shift your perspective from what you’ve lost to what you still have.
Along those lines, look for ways to create new traditions around the holidays that resonate with your current circumstances. Since your Thanksgiving gatherings have dwindled, perhaps this gives you the opportunity to invite others into your celebration who may be facing similar circumstances. Alternatively, consider spending the holiday volunteering with others and creating new memories. Helping others can be a profound way to find gratitude in your own life.
Finally, I encourage you to seek support, especially if your feelings of loneliness and sadness persist. Reach out to a therapist or counselor who can provide you with the tools and strategies to address these emotions and find greater emotional well-being.
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