"APPRECIATION IS LIKE AN INSURANCE POLICY..."

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

“Appreciation is like an insurance policy. It has to be renewed every now and then.” –Dave McIntyre

THANKSGIVING AS A PROMPT

When leaves start to fall and daylight diminishes, we know, without thinking, that the Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. November ushers in our annual time of reflecting on all we are grateful for. But with everything going on, if we don’t make time for reflection, all the things we can be thankful for will not be obvious, even in Thanksgiving’s wake.

When I want strong encouragement during challenging times, I retrieve the 50¢, purple, wide-ruled school composition notebook that serves as my gratitude journal. Nothing transports me to a better world faster than jotting down and re-reading things that I am grateful for, such as free sausage from the farmer who had accidentally overcharged me, a just-in-time arrival of a much-needed report, and catching up with a friend during an outdoor, COVID-safe walk around the lake.

Thanksgiving serves as an excellent annual renewal notice for our “appreciation insurance policy.” We can even go further and think of Thanksgiving as a prompt for reflecting and expressing gratitude throughout the year.

WHAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO

“Your experience of life is not based on your life. It’s based on what you pay attention to.” says Gregg Krech, author and authority on self-reflection and gratitude. During this time of taking in excessive news and information, turning our attention inward is essential. Recording and reflecting on enriching thoughts and feelings nourishes composure, optimism, overall health, and well-being. In addition, gratitude journaling ensures that we don’t miss all the unexpected good things that come our way.

GIVING THANKS BOOSTS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Although we believe that it is important to take time for quiet reflection, we don’t often do it because our lives are so busy. But it doesn’t have to be complicated or take much time. A simple practice of gratitude journaling or a deeper practice taught by Gregg Krech can shift attention. Whether you engage a lot or a little—during the Thanksgiving holiday or throughout the year—any act of giving thanks boosts health and well-being. 

These simple but powerful ideas are just a start. Take more control of your life and well-being by joining the High Health Network today.

Joyce M. Young, MD, MPH
Managing Director, Advanced Wellness Systems

Sincerely,
Your colleagues at Advanced Wellness Systems