Five Ways Of Showing Gratitude On This Thanksgiving Day

Come Fall, everyone starts to gear up for Thanksgiving Day. Dinner invites are handed out, menus are planned, preparations are made and celebrations are on in full swing. But, why is it that this one day evokes all senses of gratitude in you, when for the rest of the 364 days of the year, you take everything for granted? Here are a few ways of making up for all those days we don’t recognize the value of what life gives us.

Surprise your parents with breakfast in bed

The nearest people in your lives, whom you owe a big “Thank You” for everything they do for you, are your parents. But they are the very people whom we tend to take for granted the most. So, today (or any other day, for that matter), put a smile on surprise on their faces and show that you care by simple gestures such as making them breakfast in bed, or doing the household chores for a day so that they can sit back & relax. You can also send them off to a day-long picnic or take them out to a movie and dinner just to give them a breather from the hardships of life.

Say ‘Thank You’ to the people you take for granted

There are a lot of people around you who make life easier for you day in and day out, but you never give them a second thought. So, let’s take a pledge today to really notice these people and shower them with a kind smile, a simple nod or a heartfelt “Thank You’. So, while going to work in the morning, thank the liftman, smile at the cabbie, ask after the security guard’s health or just smile at the local tea-shop owner. You’ll not only be lighting up their day with that simple gesture, but also feel good about it. Trust us!

Plant a tree as a way of thanking Mother Earth

We are living in, breathing on and abusing our planet since time immemorial, but have you ever thought of thanking Mother Earth for sustaining out lives? It’s high time you showed your planet the gratitude it deserves, specially now, when earth needs you more than ever before! So, this Thanksgiving Day, start by planting a tree and contributing to whatever bit of greenery is still left on this planet. If each of us plants one tree, then imagine how much we can collectively do for our planet & its environment. Take it as your way of saying thank you to the earth and the reason for leaving back a healthier planet for your future generations who will thank you in return when their time comes.

Do your spouse’s part of the chores & give him/her a break

You love your other half and appreciate his or her place in your life, but in these busy times, you hardly ever get a chance to show your appreciation, right? Now’s the time! Give your spouse a day off and surprise him/her by doing their part of the chores. Take them out to an impromptu dinner, or even a sudden long drive and thank them from the bottom of your heart for being who they are and making your life better and more meaningful! In fact, make this a habit once in a while, and your relationship will evolve in a way you never imagined!

Do something for the less-privileged

Of course, Thanksgiving Day is meant for thanking the almighty for all that you have. But what about those who don’t have much at all, to start with? This is the time to show your gratitude by sharing what you have with those who are less fortunate. Donate to charity, volunteer for NGOs, buy gifts for kids at the local orphanage, or cook food for those at an oldage home – you can give back to them in hundreds of ways, and if everyone does their bit, the world will be a much happier place to live in! Do whatever little you can and spread smiles around you – there can’t be a better way of thanking God than to make His children happy!

This Thanksgiving Day, say ‘Thank You’ in your own unique ways and mean it too! And do remember to show your thanks every day, even if it is not Thanksgiving, because something like gratitude should be celebrated day in & day out!