gratitude
November is a sad month, isn't it? Sure, Americans celebrate their Thanksgiving in November, but for the rest of the world, it's just another month in the year. November's only real claim to fame is being a stepping stone on the path to Christmas, and for those who do not celebrate Christmas, it's a bridge to two days off at the end of December. In other words, November is like the nerdy kid in school: people copy off his homework, but they don't invite him to parties. November, like that kid, can be lonely, miserable, and gloomy, so what can be done to help pluck this sad little month out of obscurity?
If you're a masculine person who grows facial hair, you can participate in Movember, which is a yearly tradition where masculine people grow a moustache during the month of November to raise awareness for health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide among men. This is a fantastic cause, and it's a lot of fun for those who can and want to grow a moustache. For those of us who can't, or don't grow a stache, I propose we start a new tradition!
This year I will practice gratitude for the entire month of November. I'm open to any suggestions you may have for catchy names like Nod to November, Grat-Member, and even Nov-itude...but for now I'm calling it the month of gratitude. According to Harvard Health, "gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships." In addition, a regular gratitude practice can improve self-esteem, increase energy, and help us feel more optimistic. Daily gratitude can also help make us more resilient when facing adversity and strengthen our ability to feel compassion. Gratitude also helps us stay present and grounded, both in our yoga practice and in our day-to-day lives. You may also notice a boost in your overall mood and less anxiety, stress, and fewer intrusive thoughts when practicing gratitude.
To help kickstart the month of gratitude, I have created a journal to jot down my thoughts and keep track of my progress! And guess what? I've gone ahead and made this available to you as well! Below this post are links to both a printable and an online gratitude journal. Feel free to use either version to help you keep track of your thoughts, write down any feelings you may have over the month, and the things in your life that you're most grateful for! Thirty days of gratitude may seem like a daunting task, but by the end of the month, you may have only reached the tip of the emotional iceberg! Join me on this month-long journey to a more grateful and grounded life and discover your gratitude today!
*Please note, the online fillable journal is not optimized for mobile.
