Pembina Valley Online
The time has come; the holidays have begun.
Once Thanksgiving hits, it can often feel like a whirlwind of events, get-togethers, and family events until that final countdown to midnight at the end of the year.
And being one of the first holidays of the season, it’s easy to miss out on the meaning behind Thanksgiving as we brace for the inevitable festivities that go with the coming months.
Pembina Counselling Centre’s Christine Elias says there’s never a bad time to pause and take stock of what we’re thankful for, even when life feels busy.
“I like to almost think of being thankful or grateful like a habit, almost like developing a way of thinking, a way of being.”
She explains that while gratitude comes naturally to some people, for others it takes practice, and that’s okay. Like any habit, it can be built over time through small, intentional acts.
A mindful thanks
One approach Elias often recommends is making ordinary moments intentional.
“I like mindfulness walks and turning that into gratefulness,” she said. “For me, it involves God… I actually want to walk and notice the beautiful trees. ‘Lord, thank you for the leaves I see on the trees. Thank you for the sun I feel on my face.’”
She says this simple act of slowing down, of putting away distractions like podcasts or mental to-do lists, can help people reconnect with the present moment.
Sharing gratitude at home
Another practice Elias suggests is building gratitude as a family.
“At dinner time when we sit down together, part of our conversation will be, ‘What are you thankful for today?’” she said. “We’re almost looking out for things to be thankful for, and then also sharing it, which, as you can imagine, the benefits ripple because we’re also enjoying what other people are thankful for.”
And for those who want to take it a step further, Elias recommends a “gratitude letter”: writing to someone who has made a difference in your life. “It would be appreciating someone else and then passing that on,” she said. “The idea of the ripple effect of ‘I’m thankful for this person, I want them to know,’ and you can imagine how that feels for them to receive that.”
Everyday thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, Elias encourages everyone to take a moment to notice the little things.
The warmth of sunlight, a quiet walk, or the kindness of a friend, and let that gratitude grow into something steady and lasting.