An Attitude of Gratitude
It’s easy to get the blues during the COVID-19 lockdown, but if you are staying safe and healthy, you have a lot to be grateful for. Even if you miss interacting with family, friends, and neighbors, you celebrated a religious holiday alone or you can’t visit your favorite store or market, your life is still very good.
And you know why. You are not a victim of the devastating COVID-19 epidemic.
But keeping an attitude of gratitude during these tense, long, isolated days is not always easy. Most people say they only feel grateful when good things fall their way at a particular time. But if you have your health right now you should be offering thanks for your good fortune all day long.
No matter your age, race, or station in life, the virtue of gratitude is available to everyone. Here’s how experts define gratitude:
- Gratitude allows us to recognize, focus on, and appreciate the good in our lives, and constantly reminds us about the great things all around us.
- Practicing gratitude allows us to recognize those who bring goodness into our lives and humbles us in order to give credit to those we are grateful for.
- Gratitude reminds us that even in what seems to be the darkest of times, there’s still room for joy.
Once you become aware and grateful for the things around you, your life becomes richer and less stressful. Instead of focusing on what you are missing, count your blessings for all the positive things you have. You can still connect with friends and family over the telephone, spring flowers are blooming, WRAAA care managers are taking care of their clients’ needs, and frontline workers are bravely saving the lives of people infected with the virus every minute.
Chin up – we will get through this. If you are struggling to find a silver lining, hold on to the thought that this pandemic, despite how hard it has been for all of us, will eventually end. When that happens – you will not need a definition of gratitude.