Living with Gratitude

With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the new year fast approaching, we would like to pause and take a moment to reflect on what we’re most grateful for here at the Village of Wentworth Heights.

Like wisdom, gratitude can take years to form and is shaped by life experiences and resiliency – which many of our residents at the Village embody. There are many things that we can be grateful for like: our health, family, friends, a good neighbour, a warm home, the kindness of others, or simply the autumn leaves.

To many, the word ‘gratitude’ can simply mean ‘being grateful or thankful’.  For others, such as the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology, Prof. Robert Emmons, gratitude can be defined as a spiritual experience: “a felt sense of wonder, thankfulness, and appreciation for life”. Regardless of how you define gratitude, there are many wonderful benefits to expressing gratitude:

-         Greater empathy towards others

-         Greater appreciation for what we have now

-         Greater sense of happiness and positivity

-         Increased energy

-         Reduced stress

-         Boosted immune system

-         Lowered blood pressure and reduced inflammation (which leads to a healthier heart)

It is no doubt, that we should all practise gratitude and cultivate happiness. Please join us and share how you express gratitude and what you are most grateful for this autumn season. Inspire others by visiting our Facebook page and posting a message about what gratitude means to you! Or simply drop by and visit the Village to see how our residents are sharing their wisdom and gratitude.