Is Gratitude Still a Thing?

It has been a few years since we shared books for adults, and for children on the topic of gratitude. After all we’ve been through since then, together and apart, we wonder: is gratitude still a thing?

Now more than ever, as it turns out. A few short years ago, who could have imagined being thankful just to feel the air on one’s face after unmasking at the end of a long workday? Have we ever been so giddy over getting a shot in the arm? Were we aware then of how much it means simply to gather with family or friends, in the same room? And what about our enhanced gratitude for all those everyday heroes in the health and service sectors whose determination and grit have saved lives, and made them so much more bearable?

As Thanksgiving approaches, just in case you needed a reminder, here are some of our latest books about the power of valuing what we have, and counting our blessings.

How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, edited by James Crews. This gathering of inspiring verse from favorite poets and writers including Joy Harjo, Tracy K. Smith, Jane Hirschfield and Ted Kooser feels like a graduate class in appreciating life.

I Want to Thank You: How A Year of Gratitude Can Bring Joy and Meaning in A Disconnected World, by Gina Hamadey. The author turns the frequently rote obligation of the Thank You note into a conscious practice of gratitude capable of opening minds and hearts.

The Gratitude Project: How the Science of Thankfulness Can Rewire Our Brains for Resilience, Optimism, and the Greater Good, Jeremy Smith et. al, eds. Varied essays from positive psychologists and public figures attest to the benefits of thankfulness, and how to invite more of it into our lives.

Leading With Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results, by Adrian Gostick. Why positive reinforcement and thanks should not be meted out stingily in our workplaces, but become the common currency of our jobs.

Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted, by Kristi Nelson. Grace and gratitude explored as a spiritual discipline, to radically transform our relationship to the world.

Happy Thanksgiving, and be sure to check out our previous posts on gratitude as well.

      ~ Posted by David W.