45.Be Grateful Year-round感恩365

Thanksgiving Day is the time to remind people of giving thanks.This is the season for taking a time to reflect on what we are thankful for in life. Spending that time with friends and family to give thanks is what makes the holiday so special. But why should we limit it to just a fewl weeks in the year? Gratitude is a muscle we should strengthen year-round to make us healthier, happier humans.Many associate gratitude with saying "thank you" to someone who has helped us, making it fleeting act of appreciation. From a scientific perspective, it's an emotion that can result in long-lasting positivity. According to Robert Emmons, a leading researcher, gratitude has two key stages: acknowledging the goodness in life and recognizing who to thank for it. People feel and express gratitude in different ways. Some keep a journal to write down what they are grateful for each day, while others strive for a daily act of kindness. In the workplace, we can practice gratitude by viewing failure as a way to grow, or taking the time to tell a co worker how they have inspired us. Regardless, it's a quality that can always be strengthened with use and practice.So this year when you find yourself around a table with loved ones, sharing what you are grateful for, take a moment to consider how you'll practice gratitude throughout the coming year.The old saying goes "it's never too late to say you're sorry," but the same is true of gratitude.Taking the time to thank people for their work, kindness or empathy---whether it was today, last month or many years ago--- makes you happier, healthier and more self-aware. And that's a gift worth celebrating 365 days a year.
节选自《空中英语教室》