As most enter November and December with our minds on the holidays. We reflect on the year and consider our individual and collective blessings. For Fire Hero Families, the holidays don’t stop, but we try to reconcile our loss as the world around them shouts “joy,” “peace” and “love.” As with everything, the path varies for each individual. But to a person, despite overwhelming loss, there is, nonetheless, a sense of gratitude and blessing.
An Attitude of Gratitude
Do you want to strengthen your immune system, lower the level of cortisol (stress hormone) in your body, reduce depression, improve sleep, reduce your blood pressure, increase your self-esteem, and improve how you see the world? If yes, try the practice of gratitude. Grateful people tend to have more positive coping strategies, feel higher levels of control in their lives, deal with problems directly and effectively (vs. denying or avoiding), have more self-acceptance, see more purpose in their lives, and have fewer negative thoughts and a more positive outlook on life.
#30DaysofGratitude
Tanisha Hall says that gratitude is one of the most essential components to receiving blessings and shifting our perspective on life. So she decided to share what she was grateful for on social media and learned that there is always something to be grateful for! Write down/post what you are grateful for, no matter how big or small for the next 30 days including #30DaysofGratitude.
Gratitude Growing from Grief
Sylvia Kratzke notes, that as you work through your grief and begin to resume your everyday life, the absurdity of the petty squabbling world around you becomes glaringly apparent. What is truly important becomes crystal clear. And that feeling stays with you as you continue your journey through grief, day by day, moving forward to new life, your first reason to be grateful.
