February 21, 2026: The Gift of Gratitude

Oxford English Dictionary: Definition of Gratitude:grat·i·tude

noun: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindnes

Gratitude, derived from the Latin word gratia, means gratefulness or thankfulness.

This morning, instead of turning on my laptop and checking the news, I chose to take the time to sit quietly by my window, with a cup of fragrant, spicy chai tea and watch the birds who visit us daily. As I viewed the variety of feathered “neighbors” who share this part of the world with me, I was filled with a sense of both awe and gratitude to be able to witness once again, the wonders of nature.

As we experience the onslaught of daily negative news, the world can too often feel full of insurmountable challenges. The constant stream of disasters and misfortune we experience, can lead to anxiety, despair, fear and frustration. Yet research has determined that the simple practice of gratitude can be a powerful gift that benefits our emotional, physical and psychological health.

“How can the power of gratitude affect our lives? Recent research has pointed to gratitude’s myriad positive health effects, including greater emotional and social well-being, better sleep quality, lower depression risks, and favorable markers of cardiovascular health. “https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071

Gratitude encourages us to be both aware of and to appreciate the “goodness” in our lives. It’s understanding that these gifts are available to us when we develop the mindset of being thankful. We can recognize the wonder that surrounds us and be willing to share these blessings, even in the darkest of times.

“As researchers explore the neurological underpinnings of gratitude, they’re discovering that this simple practice can lead to profound positive changes in mood, resilience, and overall wellbeing……… Thanking others, thanking ourselves, Mother Nature, or a divine power — gratitude in any form can enlighten the mind and make us feel happier. It has a healing effect on us (Russell & Fosha, 2008). https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

When we actively identify and appreciate the positive things in our lives, this practice can reduce stress and facilitate a sense of well-being, recognizing the fact that life itself is a gift.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

― Melody Beattie

Practicing gratitude helps to build our awareness of the positives in our lives. We can extend the common list of being grateful for health, family friends, basic needs (food, shelter) to the beauty and wonder of nature, our own personal resilience, peaceful moments, and even technology.

The 1960 Disney movie, Pollyanna, featured a young girl who transformed her town with her optimisim and grateful spirit. In fact, to be a “pollyanna” defines someone who finds the good in everything and has an undefeatable sense of optimism.  While we might not have her irrepressible enthusiasm for life, we can begin by simply opening our eyes to the gifts that already are present in our lives. Whether you keep a gratitude journal, or simply take time to acknowledge what is positive, these steps can help to build a foundation of strength and well-being.

Thank you for taking the time to read the this blogpost. I’ve included additional quotes on the gift of gratitude. I welcome additional quotes that inspire you and invite you to share this with someone who might find it meaningful.

In peace and harmony,

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” 

— Frederick Douglass

“Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

— G.K. Chesterton

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.”

— Karl Barth

“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”

Will Arnett

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”

Brene Brown

“When I pray, I always thank Mother Nature for all the beauty in the world. It’s about having an attitude of gratitude.”

Miranda Kerr 

“Being grateful does not mean that everything is necessarily good. It just means that you can accept it as a gift.”

Roy T. Bennett

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Melody Beattie

“It’s up to us to choose contentment and thankfulness now — and to stop imagining that we have to have everything perfect before we’ll be happy.”

Joanna Gaines

“This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.”

Maya Angelou

“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”

Louisa May Alcott

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Marcel Proust

“When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.”

Tecumseh

“In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.”

– Elizabeth Gilbert