The Origin of Gratitude 

Gratitude, as defined by the English dictionary, is the quality or feeling of being thankful for an item or an individual. It’s an appreciative act of recognizing and appreciating the good things that happen in a person’s life.

Multiple examples of gratitude can be found everywhere in everyday life. Students experience gratitude when they wake up early on a school day and find out they can go back to sleep, people experience gratitude when friends and family give them gifts on their birthday, when they’re offered compliments, hugs, and so much more. Even on the horribly bad days, gratitude can be found in the most unexpected places. 

It’s a limitless luxury, and it’s everywhere.

Gratitude Vs Society 

Gratitude is scientifically proven to benefit a person’s social, emotional and psychological well-being. Feeling appreciated makes us feel loved, valued, and connected to others in our busy, messy, and constantly changing lives.

“Last night, my mom told me she appreciated me when I unloaded the dishwasher without being asked, and it made me feel happy and needed,” Lewis, a student at Tahoma, shared. 

In today’s society, it’s become uncommon for people to express their gratitude for others because of stigma surrounding expression and opening up to others, impractical trends, perceived fear, and more. However, even if this is the case, it’s also common that everybody can feel lonely, dejected and unappreciated at times. It’s completely normal to have a bad day. 

That’s why it’s important to push past these unrealistic standards and express gratitude for people that you feel appreciative towards. It might help them feel better, and it might make you feel good too. 

“I think more people should practice gratitude,” Merissa Llamas said. “If we feel gratitude, it’s because someone or something did something to make us feel that way. Feeling gratitude is feeling happy.” 

Sharing Our Appreciation

We feel and experience gratitude more than we think. 

We are thankful for so many things throughout the year, but many of us don’t have the chance to express it. However, now’s the time to push past our fears and to go for it. Gratitude is everything that we appreciate, unknowingly or not. 

It can be as simple as quietly being grateful for getting an A+ on your math test, or as big as being reassured and comforted when you’re going through a tough time. Although everybody expresses it differently, there is always something for everyone. Some methods that you can use to express gratitude are:

• Giving compliments (It’s not as awkward as you think, and it goes a long way!) 
• Thanking someone for something they did (e.g if they helped you do your assignment, if they did you a favor, opened the door for you, etc.) 
• Giving gifts as an appreciation token
• High-fives, fist-bumps, thumbs up, etc. 

And that’s not all! It could also be small gestures like giving words of encouragement to someone before a competition, giving someone a big hug, helping a friend out with a favor, and more. 

In any case, gratitude is a practice that helps revitalize life as you work to recognize the things that make your life great. Whatever you give out, you get back. Whether to a friend, a teacher, or even a complete stranger, try spreading thanks to someone that you appreciate!