Be Happy and Be Grateful
Our brains are wired to have a positive response to feelings of gratitude, leading us to want to experience it more. As we experience gratitude, our brains look for more things for which to be grateful.  Because of the brain activity associated with feeling grateful, feelings of gratitude can lead us to exercise more, feel less stress, and even reduce our aches and pains. 
 
One of the nice things about experiencing gratitude is that it does not require a huge amount of time or mental energy. You can experience gratitude when you express a heartfelt thank you to a friend or loved one, it can be encompassed in a hug, or it can be a fleeting appreciation of a beautiful hummingbird in a feeder. 
 
I asked my Facebook friends how they show gratitude and for what they are grateful.  Here are some of the things that I learned from them. My grateful friends:

• Shower their children with hugs and kisses
• Participate actively in the community 
• Take good care of themselves 
• Spend time with and care for their loved ones
• Enjoy their life.

For me, while I try to express gratitude throughout the course of a day, I tend to take the time when I am doing my morning pages to pause and focus on a gratitude list.   The amazing Julia Cameron, in the book “The Artist’s Way,” talks about writing morning pages.  First thing in the morning, while still in a semi-awake state, I plug in the coffee, let the dog out, and sit in the aforementioned porch, pen and journal in hand. Not all of the time but often, as I write, I make a list of the things that I appreciate.  My husband is always at the top, followed closely by the poodle.  Then the list can go in any number of different directions.  Perennial favorites include my family, my friends, my health, and my coffee. In addition to all of the great brain activity I am apparently generating by doing this, I feel that it also brings me into the present moment, aware of what is at that point in time.   And, I find that when I do this, my days are smoother, great things happen, and I feel happier. 

Based on my experience and that of my friends, here are seven great ways to express gratitude.  Figure out what works for you.  It may make life run just a little smoother and be good for your brain as well!

• Write morning pages
• Create an evening appreciation list
• Give extra hugs to loved ones
• Pay it forward with kindness
• Send a hand-written note to express gratitude
• Say thank you
• Pause and breathe in appreciation and breathe out gratitude.