Twelve Ways to Practice Gratitude During the Holiday Season

Listen to this article

Practicing gratitude can help foster a sense of joy, connection, and mindfulness. Here are 12 meaningful ways to cultivate gratitude during the holiday season:

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down three things you’re grateful for each day. Reflect on the positive aspects of your life, big or small.
2. Write Handwritten Notes: Send personalized thank-you cards or letters to those who have made a positive impact on your life. A sincere note can mean a lot.
3. Donate to Charity: Give to a cause or charity that is important to you or your loved ones. Whether it’s a monetary donation or gifts, your support can make a difference.
4. Volunteer Your Time: Offer your time to a local organization or community group. Volunteering helps others and can be a fulfilling way to give back during the holidays.
5. Surprise Someone with a Thoughtful Gift: Whether big or small, a surprise gift shows appreciation and thoughtfulness. It’s a great way to express gratitude for someone’s kindness.
6. Share a Meal: Invite friends or family over for a home-cooked meal or share food with neighbors who may be alone during the holidays. A shared meal fosters connection and shows care.
7. Give Compliments: Show appreciation by complimenting people for their work, kindness, or personality. Positive reinforcement helps others feel valued.
8. Support Small Businesses: Shop locally or support small businesses during the holiday season. Your patronage directly supports entrepreneurs and their families.
9. Express Gratitude to Your Loved Ones: Take the time to verbally express how much you appreciate the people closest to you. Sometimes the simplest “thank you” can mean the most.
10. Practice Acts of Kindness: Small gestures like holding the door for someone, helping with chores, or giving a stranger a smile can create a ripple effect of kindness and gratitude.
11. Create a Gratitude Jar: Encourage family or friends to write down things they are grateful for on slips of paper and place them in a jar. You can read them together as a group, bringing joy and appreciation into the room.
12. Reconnect with Nature: Spend time outside, appreciating the natural world and the small wonders it offers, like a sunny day, a beautiful sunset, or a walk in the snow.

These acts of gratitude not only brighten someone else’s day but can also deepen your own sense of connection and appreciation for the season.

Cat Doss

Cat Doss is an artist/writer/filmmaker/performer living in the Los Angeles area. She was born in Huntington, West Virginia. A classically trained painter and a winner of multiple awards in various disciplines, Cat refuses to confine herself to one medium preferring to experiment with her work and investigate the workings behind the creative process. Her art can currently be found at Facebook.com/someassemblyrequired