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Health & Fitness

Gratitude

Thanksgiving Day is the formal acknowledgement in our culture of gratitude for our blessings and gifts. The meaning of this first holiday of the holiday season gets “short shrift” as we rush on to football games or Black Friday shopping.

Angles Arrien, PhD. wrote a wonderful book called Living in Gratitude. The book presents a 12 month plan for making gratitude a foundation for daily living.

Here are a few topics I found interesting in her book. 

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Gratitude comes from the Latin word "grata or gratia" - a gift that is freely given that is undeserved.

In regards to gratitude, how does that definition change your answer to the question many people share around the Thanksgiving table, “What am I most thankful for?"  

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To take it a step further, truly explore another question which is, “What blessings have I been given this year?’

Angles suggests that one way to cultivate gratitude is developing the quality of Grateful Seeing. Grateful Seeing is the ability to look first for what is good and working in your life without denying the hardships or challenges that are also present.

This positive attitude is formalized by many in what is called a gratitude journal, which is a simple way to record every day or a few times a week the gifts and blessings you’ve received.

Let’s vow to make every day a thankful one.

Happy Thanksgiving!

About Madeline Muise, LCSW, Director Mediation and Therapy Associates, LLC: 

Mediation and Therapy Associates specializes in helping you create a fulfilling life. We help you identify goals and develop skills to establish rewarding relationships with partners/spouses, your children, extended family and community.

Personally, I received my Bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Rose and a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers’ the State University. In addition, I also have postgraduate training in the following areas:

  • Family Systems Therapy
  • Divorce Mediation, Winston Salem, North Carolina
  • Advanced Mediation Training, Montclair, New Jersey and Florida
  • Parent Coordination Training with Robin Deutch, PhD.
  • Collaborative Law Training

I am married, have adult children and grandchildren. My hobbies include travel, sailing and the arts. 

For more information, please go to my website at: http://www.mediationandtherapyassociates.com

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