Gratitude and its positive effect

[peregrina2000]

Yesterday's New York Times had an article about the psychological benefits of gratitude: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/scien ... ude&st=cse As many of you know, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the US, so articles like this abound.

I long ago realized that though the Camino may not have transformed my life, it has instilled in me a profound sense of gratitude for things big and small. Every day on the Camino, I am grateful -- for the beauty around me, for the kindness of others, for the interpersonal bonds, for being so lucky to have the opportunity to experience this wonder over and over. And now to learn from the New York Times, that the more pervasive our gratitude, the healthier our psyches, well, that's a win-win situation for me!

And in that vein, I want to say thanks to everyone on this forum who has given me help and support over the years, and also to those who ask questions, tolerate my long-winded answers, and allow me to continue to feel connected with all things Camino-related.

Happy Thanksgiving and buen camino, Laurie

 

[sillydoll]

Lovely post Laurie - happy thanksgiving to you!

 

[Kharkins]

Love this - thanks, Laurie. Thanks for sharing the article. I'm looking forward to my first camino next September! Am learning a lot as I prepare for this - and blogging about it (http://couch2camino.wordpress.com/). Gratefulness has been - is - an important theme for me.

 

[lynnejohn]

Thanks for this Laurie - a very grounding message.

I too am grateful for the information, support, and laughs from all of our moderators, friends and contributors here on the forum.

lynne

 

[peregrina2000]

I got a notice a few days ago that pilgrim b had "liked" this post, and I thought it would be nice to bring up to the top. Gratitude is good for you, today is Thanksgiving in the US, and I am thankful to have such a helpful, sharing group of people for whom no question is too silly or too trivial. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Laurie

 

[LTfit]

What a thoughtful post Laurie.

May I also wish you and all the other forum members celebrating Thanksgiving a day of blessing.

 

[pilgrim b]

Thank you too from me, peregrine 2000 and to all of you.Who are so graceful in your giving and your gratitude towards everyone on forum . Have a very special Thanksgiving!

 

[freescot]

Thanksgiving is a wonderfully energy giving act and you Americans are lucky to have such a Day to celebrate it. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
The Camino has taught me much about giving thanks and I am especially grateful to the Amigos for the yellow arrows and the hospitaleros for their time, their kindness and their committment.
My own personal experience of thanksgiving on the Camino is here : http://www.the-raft-of-corks.com/blog/thanksgiving-via-de-la-plata-tierra-de-barros/.
Another account of an extended spontanaeous prayer of thanks is here:http://www.the-raft-of-corks.com/blog/prayer-just-letting-happen/.

Here is a quote a friend sent me after reading one post:
Gratitude arises whenever you start feeling God's presence around you; then only gratitude is left. Then your whole energy becomes gratitude, then your whole being becomes a thanksgiving, it becomes a prayer – because nothing is missing, and the world is so perfect, and everything is as it should be. Gratitude is natural. Gratitude is not something that can be practiced. You have been taught to be grateful; you cannot be taught. Gratefulness is a consequence: when you feel God close by, gratitude arises. It is a by-product.'

Thankyou
peregrina2000

 

[pilgrim b]

Thanksgiving is a wonderfully energy giving act and you Americans are lucky to have such a Day to celebrate it. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
The Camino has taught me much about giving thanks and I am especially grateful to the Amigos for the yellow arrows and the hospitaleros for their time, their kindness and their committment.
My own personal experience of thanksgiving on the Camino is here : http://www.the-raft-of-corks.com/blog/thanksgiving-via-de-la-plata-tierra-de-barros/.
Another account of an extended spontanaeous prayer of thanks is here:http://www.the-raft-of-corks.com/blog/prayer-just-letting-happen/.

Here is a quote a friend sent me after reading one post:
Gratitude arises whenever you start feeling God's presence around you; then only gratitude is left. Then your whole energy becomes gratitude, then your whole being becomes a thanksgiving, it becomes a prayer – because nothing is missing, and the world is so perfect, and everything is as it should be. Gratitude is natural. Gratitude is not something that can be practiced. You have been taught to be grateful; you cannot be taught. Gratefulness is a consequence: when you feel God close by, gratitude arises. It is a by-product.'

Thankyou
peregrina2000

Thanks to you also freescot for those words reminding me of our Camino's lessons in your blogs, and passing on that wonderful quote from a friend it is truly appreciated. Thankyou

 

[stevenjarvis]

The first day of Hanukah , Chanukah, and Thanksgiving will not coincide again for another 7900 years, apparently.

 

[stevenjarvis]

I'll check the calendar...