How to share short stories of gratitude and thanksgiving to make your holiday even more meaningful
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and pumpkin pie.
And while a Thanksgiving feast is certainly a part of how we might choose to celebrate, Thanksgiving is really about reflecting on and appreciating all of the good things that we have in our lives.
Think about your Thanksgiving Day last year. How did your family tune into a sense of gratitude? If you’re like most people, you probably sat around the Thanksgiving dinner table and took turns sharing something each of you felt grateful for.
And this is a wonderful way to set the tone for a heartfelt gathering and connect with the good feelings of being grateful!
But of all the meaningful ways you and your family can choose to express gratitude this holiday season, I want to let you in on the simple way my family and I practice gratitude when we get together for Thanksgiving.
Plus, this gratitude activity comes with proven, research-backed benefits!
Here’s a simple Thanksgiving gratitude game that will help your whole family experience an attitude of gratitude this year
Each person that gathers at your Thanksgiving table brings something unique with them– the stories, connections, and qualities each member of your family calls their own have helped shape the past year and make each person a special part of your family.
A great way to honor the people who make up our family and to express real-time gratitude in the present moment is to express gratitude for each other.
Instead of sharing something you’re grateful for, how about appreciating someone you’re grateful for?
While sitting at your table, invite your guests to create meaning with you while you’re all together– “Let’s share something we’re grateful for about the person to our left. I’ll start!”
Then, you initiate the first gratitude. Turn to the person on your left and share something that you appreciate about this person. Maybe you’re grateful for the good deeds they’ve done over the past year, nice things they’ve done or said to another family member, or even positive things about their personality or who they are.
Even if the person to your left is a stranger that someone else invited and this is the first time you’ve met them, think of something you appreciate about what little you know or have seen of them so far. For example, maybe you noticed how friendly they are, how infectious their laugh or smile is, or how willing they’ve been to help out at the table.
There really is no shortage of opportunities to be grateful for the people around us!
Once you’re finished, that person then turns to the person on their left to share a gratitude about them, and so on, and so on.
Some of what is shared will be deep and profound, and some of it may be more superficial and funny– it’s all okay!
The intention is to tune yourself to the frequency of gratitude and appreciation and to speak that gratitude out loud.
Why are expressions of gratitude like this so important?
Research on the difference between thinking gratitude and practicing gratitude found that practicing gratitude in an outward manner was one of the best ways to experience its tangible benefits.
Practicing gratitude can look like keeping a gratitude journal as a form of daily practice, creating self-guided gratitude exercises for yourself, or speaking gratitude out loud to those around you.
The leading scientific expert on gratitude, Robert Emmons, has conducted studies on the impact of practicing gratitude with thousands of individuals.
These seemingly simple activities have a significant positive impact on physical health, including an improved immune response and lower blood pressure, and mental health, including more joy and positive emotions.
Emmons and his colleagues have also documented the social benefits of practicing gratitude. It turns out, outwardly expressing gratitude helps people feel less lonely, forgive more easily, and be more compassionate.
And being on the receiving end of gratitude expressions from others? That has benefits too, like lower levels of anxiety and less negative emotions just to name a few!
In fact, Emmons calls gratitude a social emotion, saying, “The social benefits are especially significant here because, after all, gratitude is a social emotion. I see it as a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.”
Ideally, we want to practice gratitude on a regular, consistent basis – but there is no better time than Thanksgiving to experience the personal and social benefits of this powerful tool in a fun way.
As each person moves around the table sharing something they appreciate about the person on their left, before the circle is complete, everyone will have shifted into a vibration of gratitude.
This Thanksgiving activity will make a more heartfelt and fulfilling gathering for all!
Expressing gratitude even for the little things is life-changing
Years ago, my husband Joe decided to express some gratitude of his own.
Joe grew up in a singing family, and his entire family regularly sang together.
Joe grew up to become a gifted professional singer, a career he loves with all of his heart and soul.
One year when he was very young, Joe’s family was supposed to sing for a holiday event at church. When they arrived, the church was filled to the brim with 300 people.
As a little seven year old boy, Joe had never sung in public before. He was very, very nervous.
When the moment came that he and his family went on stage and were supposed to start singing, Joe opened his mouth, and no sound came out!
He was terrified, embarrassed, and thought about running off the stage to hide.
He looked into the audience, and sitting there near the front was a woman named Mrs. Bryant, the mother of his big brother’s friend.
Mrs. Bryant looked right into Joe’s eyes and just smiled this great big smile.
Seeing this put Joe at ease. He was able to take a breath, and then, he could sing!
Many decades later, Joe found himself thinking about Mrs. Bryant.
He thought, “You know, if Mrs. Bryant hadn’t smiled at me that day when I was a child, I would have been so afraid I wouldn’t have been able to sing. I would have been ashamed. I might never have given myself permission to become a singer and had the life that I’ve had.”
So my husband wrote a gratitude letter for Mrs. Bryant, decades after that smile. He wrote, “When I was seven years old, your warmth gave me the confidence I needed to take a breath and sing.”
Joe went on to tell her how much that moment had shaped his life, writing, “Thank you for my singing career.”
Several years after Joe sent that letter, Joe and I were standing together at his father’s funeral and Mrs. Bryant’s son approached us.
Joe said to him, “You know, I wrote your mother a letter about five years ago.”
Mrs. Bryant’s son said, “Not only did you write a letter to her, she kept it in her wallet. She read that letter many, many times. Often, she would bring it out at meals and share that letter with all of us about the power of saying how grateful you are for someone.”
I know that hearing this made Joe feel good, and we know that it made Mrs. Bryant feel good too.
Here’s the truth: You and I can express our gratitude any day of the year
Thanksgiving may be a favorite holiday. It may seem like the absolute, perfect time to express gratitude. There are even countless Thanksgiving gratitude activities you can do with your children and your family to show how thankful you are on this special day.
But, the truth is, there isn’t anything magical about the gratitude we express on Thanksgiving.
We can choose in any given moment not just to think grateful thoughts, but also to express those thoughts to others.
Gratitude itself is magical!
The power of gratitude isn’t limited to a single holiday. You can experience profound benefits from gratitude practices like this one in your own life on any given day– and I encourage you to do just that!
Download my FREE: Stronger Than Circumstances eBook and learn this simple gratitude practice and how to OVERCOME limitations and not just at Thanksgiving, but every day of our lives.
An invitation and a challenge for you…
Here’s a question for you…
Who is one person in your life that you feel grateful for? Go ahead and share this with me in the comments below.
You don’t have to name the person – you can just say “my daughter,” or “my brother,” or “my husband” if you prefer.
No matter how you choose to denote them, I invite you to share something that they bring into your life that you’re grateful for.
Then, I challenge you to take your gratitude practice one step further! Consider sharing your feeling of gratitude with that person in your life.
Whether you tell them the next time you see them, send them a quick email, or do what Joe did and write a letter, it’s a quick, easy way to have a massive, positive impact.
You have within reach an effective way to model gratitude, a powerful tool to shift your energy, and an easy method to help you feel better now– all wrapped up in gratitude.
And there’s no better way than sharing your gratitude to help the people in your life reap the same benefits!
Don’t forget to share with me in the comments.
I’d love to hear from you!
Dear Miss Morrissey,
Sometimes I wonder about how things I need drop in my life(or Mailbox). Just now I was thinking about my life, now and in the past.
So the person I am grateful for is my father. He is my angel soulmate and he visits me sometimes in my dreams and thoughts. When I was young he encouraged me to try things even when I do not know how. He pushed me forward in showing me how to try and if needed try again after falling. He was my teacher and his love and trust in me gave me an inner strength to believe in myself. His energy and attitude was loving and caring for his family even when they do not understand his ways. His love comes from inside and he shares it without expecting something in return.
I thank you for your question, it brings back in my heart and mind how being grateful gives joy and inner peace and happiness. And I am going to use your message in my Tao and Qigong classes to make shifts possible and spread Gratitude over our world.
Isn’t it funny how the things we need seem to come at just the right moment? Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful sentiments about your father! He sounds like a wonderful soul you are fortunate to have in your life.
I am so grateful for my husband who gave me a wonderful,loving, happy and smart boy that make me so fulfilled and a home/ family of my own.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing your gratitude with us.
…To my best friend Jeff.We both live way out of town.Instead of ‘naughty birds’ who devour my veg garden and poop on my verandah,he shares his knowledge of that particular species,their songs & habits…& has helped me identify and appreciate them so much more.
He encourages and feeds them (a token amount)at his property in long vigils each dawn and dusk.l am grateful for his sharing , wisdom,and care for Nature around us.Tku Jeff.
I am greatful for my husband and my friend Bettina.
am grateful for my brother, he’s been there for me through tick and thin
I’m grateful for my son and my brother!!
I have always wondered what Thanksgiving is about but, when I listened to this it really made me think about things I am grateful for. Tears of gratitude from South Africa
My aunt Dolores is very loving very supportive of me I have been going through some hard times .I’ve had some people that give me a hard time I don’t tell her much about it but she always expresses love and she likes To hear from me on the phone. she appreciates my phone calls we discuss politics we discuss family past events I am very thankful that she’s in my life
I am grateful for my sister who has helped me so much this year!
So very grateful for your compassion and leadership and for my siblings!
I’m grateful for my sister who shows me how to have compassion for others.
I’m grateful for my mother who shows me how to be organized.
I’m grateful for my brother who shows me to respond rather than react.
I’m grateful for my dad who showed me how to be calm and to appreciate others.
I’m grateful for my brother who showed me that I am important.
I’m grateful for my daughter who shows me that I matter, brings humor to my life and brings calm to my life.
I’m grateful for my grandson who brings joy to my life.
Thank you for that uplifting reminder to speak of our gratitude. My husband is one I am grateful for. Without John, I would not have our boys (now young men). I never could have dreamed of this wonderful partner, yet I did dream of having and loving children.
I am also, grateful for the wonderful full upbringing my parents gave us. A beautifully designed and built home created by my father with the best of nature’s water, foods, and environment. Mom taught us so much to help us become independent and both have loved us unconditionally.
Thank you for this! I am grateful for you sharing your stories and warming my heart! I am grateful for my mother for loving me no matter what! ???
I am grateful for my friend, Linda Thomas, across the street, who is kind and accepting and completely approachable. She’s the kind of neighbor you can just drop in on — no fuss, or borrow a pie plate if you need one. This weekend, she’s moving to a location four hours away, so I am grateful for the 16 years she has been in my life and has helped me feel more rooted and anchored in my neighborhood.
I’m thankful for my fiance, he seems to know what to do to make me feel better about anything if I’m feeling down or if it’s just a normal type of day he’ll know what to say to make me feel like the sun is shining only for me
Every day I am amazed by, and grateful for my extraordinary mother who is now 89 years old and leads a life well lived. Daily, I see her unconditional acts of kindness, giving, loving and compassion towards everyone around her. She still insists on doing the ironing for my sister’s family and myself, to help us in our busy working lives. She attracts, and keeps, friends of all ages and has a wicked sense of humour! I am grateful for every day that we have her inspiring comforting presence.
I’m grateful for my children.
I’m most thankful for my husband Mark—–and Dr. Suh with his teaching of tai-chi
Mary, I am so grateful for you, and your belief in me. With all of your programs, encouragement, teachings and powerful messages, my life will never be the same. I have learned to find the good in ALL Situations and have learned to embrace every day. Thank you Mary for Everything. God bless you.
I’m very grateful and thankful to have my friend Val in my life. He has been a tower of strength to me and a through friend
I am eternally greatful to my loving wife for being my pillar of strength
I am beyond grateful for a friend I met when I was about 12 years old( I am currently 62 yrs.old) His name is Donny. We then became very close friends as we entered the same high school. We went through life and we were both faced with near death experiences of our own and because of our experiences we both have a strong attitude of gratitude. We both feel we have been given, only by the grace of God, a second chance at life. We live each day to the fullest and we talk on the phone every single day. Donny is what and who I am most grateful for today.
I am ever so grateful for my best friend Sharon. She is my guardian angel in human form.
It is 2 years since Mary posted this, and only today have I seen it.
I am grateful to my family every day.
However, and most importantly at that time, to my then littlest grand-daughter Amelia who, just being 15 months old, helped me over a very difficult time – a new life to think about instead of one lost.
Well said.
Mary,
Thanks for your heartfelt Thanksgiving message!
I’m truly thankful for my sister Pat. She’s my best friend, confidant and prayer partner.
Each of my Children (my greatest Teachers) for their Love & Emotional support
My sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. The whole wonderful family! and then all my precious friends, too.
estou grato
I am grateful for my family. They stood by me even doing my faults.
I am grateful for you sharing this message with us all. It is perfect.
I appreciate you, Mary.
Keep honoring your beautiful Spirit!
Thank you Margaret!
I feel Blessed to have been able to attend a Dreambuilder weekend and to have had the opportunity to have been introduced to her books years ago
Messages as yours should be send into the world more often as a seed for peace. Thank you.
Thank you Albertine!
Please share these articles (messages) so many more people can benefit from them! Thanks a lot!
Warmly,
Very inspiring, thanks Mary for this opportunity to reflect .
I am very grateful for my only brother. The love we share and his cooperation since our parents passed on has a made big differnce in my life
Thanks Mary
I am Grateful for Mary Morrissey. I attended a Dream builder weekend and have had many of her tapes and books
Hi Marion, that is awesome! I am very happy for you!
Stay tuned! Let me know how is all going!
Thankful for you Mary
I am thankful for you Mary, you have encouraged me on many a morning. God’s blessings to you
I am grateful for my wonderful husband Richard – thanks for the wonderful life we share together:-)
Congratulations Suzy!
I am thankful and grateful for family.
I am grateful for family because there is no greater gift than love and my family truly loves me and I love them.
That is great Lyn! Thank you for sharing!
Hello, Happy Wonderful, Thanksgiving to you and your family! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment. I am truly happy, lucky and grateful for my five children and three grandchildren. I am especially grateful for my daughter Isis. She put her ? into our meal today and a few months ago when I was going through a really tough time withdrawing off a prescribed drug, she had faith in me. She helped me come back to who I am now. I see life differently and every precious moment I breathe I now see Abundance and Blessings everywhere. Love, Light, Abundance, Blessings! 🙂
I am so deeply grateful for my amazing, loving husband, who always cares, shows interest, has my back and regularly looks for ways to make my life happy and wonderful. That’s just the beginning of how special and magnificent he is.
I give thanks for you, Mary, for your divinely heartfelt messages that you so compassionately continue to share.
Thank you Mary for your message and for what you are doing in my life!!! I love your program and I’m looking forward in meeting you soon! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
I’m grateful for all the people in my life and the love and creation that they bribg.
Mary: This is so true. Thank you from the depths of my heart for your great insight into this idea,You are such a divine person and i have always wanted to meet you some day. You are one of my mentors for my business. I love you dearly.
I’m greatful for my husband who allow me to expand my exploration and choose my path in life. At times l am startling to make my choices
I was very sure with having our 3 children at home and making clear decisions about their life and well being. I feel each of them is showing me the amazing task of being a mom is so worth while. I am choosing a life of movement as a yoga teacher. A life of reaching and learning about spirit and growth as I slowly find idea to create more workshops and gather more groups of people to learn to live to grow to inspire each other. I’m grateful for getting to hear your videos which remind me to stay open in my heart to keep an open mind for opportunities and flow to come in to our lives hope we will soon meet in person
Thank you yael
Hi, Mary-
Thank you for your beautiful “Speaking Gratitude” story. It reminded me that as a teacher I’ve had thousands of opportunities to show gratitude or positively acknowledge a young person. And I hope my comments or behavior helped inspire those students as they grew to young adulthood and beyond. Happy Thanksgiving!
I am very grateful for my family and true friends.I thank God for the blessings that he gives to us every day of our lives..and my own brothers and sisters and the friends I shared growing up with,and our health,wealth and happiness,through Christ Jesus..Amen
Thank you my morning mentor.
My friend helped with the “back office” of the business with consistent organized efforts, at a time when it was growing and changing rapidly. She showed up at her appointed times and faced the challenges of this growing business with me.
I appreciate her for steadiness and her calm “get it done attitude.” Her presence made it easier to serve clients faithfully and well.
I will forever be grateful for my late maternal auntie who encouraged and gave me strength to face many challenges throughout life. She was always there for me and was my biggest fan. My successes, whether big or small, were sweeter because Auntie was there cheering me on. Every child should have someone besides their parents who loves them unconditionally.