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Autumn = a season for thanksgiving
In our hectic, fast-paced world, we often forget the important and healing effects of pausing and becoming aware of what we can actually be grateful for. The forthcoming autumn offers us a wonderful opportunity to do so, because it is a time for thanksgiving. Many cultures celebrate the harvest festival as a reminder of the abundance that we have in our lives.
What does thanksgiving mean?
Thanksgiving has its roots in the celebration of the harvest and the growth that farming brings. Historically, it was a way for people to express their gratitude for the abundant harvest that they had gathered that year. Today, this celebration has expanded from its original agricultural sense to refer to the recognition and appreciation of all the blessings that we enjoy in our lives.
In the broadest sense, thanksgiving today is a time for reminding ourselves that we are not alone, but are instead surrounded by a multitude of people and natural resources that support and nourish us. It is all about appreciating and strengthening this connection and an awareness of the good that exists in our lives.
What does thanksgiving mean?
Thanksgiving has its roots in the celebration of the harvest and the growth that farming brings. Historically, it was a way for people to express their gratitude for the abundant harvest that they had gathered that year. Today, this celebration has expanded from its original agricultural sense to refer to the recognition and appreciation of all the blessings that we enjoy in our lives.
In the broadest sense, thanksgiving today is a time for reminding ourselves that we are not alone, but are instead surrounded by a multitude of people and natural resources that support and nourish us. It is all about appreciating and strengthening this connection and an awareness of the good that exists in our lives.
The thanksgiving journal
A very special ritual that can be practised during the thanksgiving season is the keeping of a thanksgiving journal. It is a simple but powerful way to recognise the positive aspects of our lives and to cultivate our gratitude. This is how it works:
- Find a notebook that you like: it can be a very simple notebook with blank pages or a special thanksgiving journal.
- Take your time: find a quiet moment each day to write in your thanksgiving journal, either in the morning to start the day on a positive note, or in the evening to end the day in gratitude.
- Reflect on your day: review the day and consciously think about the events and encounters that brought you joy. These can be big or small, for example a friendly smile, a tasty ice cream, a great compliment, a successful project or even a sunset.
- Write down what you are grateful for, for example: “I am grateful for the loving support of my family, who always encourage me to live my dream and are at my side even in difficult times.”
- Maintain it: the more regularly you keep your thanksgiving journal, the more effective it becomes. Make it a daily habit and you will soon notice how your perception of matters changes.
What does a thanksgiving journal do?
A thanksgiving journal is not only a fine ritual to observe during the thanksgiving season, but also an exercise that can be practised all year round. By focusing on those things that you are grateful for, you distract your attention from negative thoughts and emotions. You focus on the beautiful, which in turn creates a more positive outlook on life.
Keeping a thanksgiving journal can also help to reduce stress and build resilience when confronted with difficult situations. By expressing our gratitude for others, we foster an atmosphere of appreciation and can deepen our relationships. Last but not least, writing promotes mindfulness and self-reflection. A thanksgiving journal helps to open our minds to the beauty and goodness that surround us.
Further ideas for the season of thanksgiving:
Show your gratitude not only in your notebook, but also in person. Tell those people who are important to you how grateful you are for them and what they mean to you.
Share your abundance with others, by sharing either your precious time or your resources with others. Donate to a charity, volunteer or offer to help.
Give yourself a moment of silence: consciously take the time to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty around you.
Go through life with open eyes and an open heart, and you will find that there are many reasons to be grateful. Celebrate harvest festival this year with a deep sense of gratitude – and share these joys with others.
©Julia Lassner alias Globusliebe
(travel blog globusliebe: mindful, sustainable travel)
Share your abundance with others, by sharing either your precious time or your resources with others. Donate to a charity, volunteer or offer to help.
Give yourself a moment of silence: consciously take the time to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty around you.
Go through life with open eyes and an open heart, and you will find that there are many reasons to be grateful. Celebrate harvest festival this year with a deep sense of gratitude – and share these joys with others.
©Julia Lassner alias Globusliebe
(travel blog globusliebe: mindful, sustainable travel)