The Benefits of Thankfulness and Having an Attitude of Gratitude

Don’t you just feel happier when you are around someone who is full of gratefulness and thanksgiving? Someone who always has something positive to say, even when things don’t appear that way? I know I do. As we approach the time of year when many people begin thinking about everything they have to be thankful for, what are you thinking about? Are you thankful or are you “grumpy” and find yourself complaining more than anything else?

Well, you might want to change your tune because being grateful and full of gratitude may be the most overlooked tools people can access every day to make their lives better! Being thankful throughout the year can have tremendous benefits on your quality of life. In fact, the greatest thing about becoming a grateful person is that it doesn’t cost any money and certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous.

Here are just a few of the benefits you will receive when you adopt an attitude of gratitude: 1) Gratitude boosts your business and your career. Gratitude makes you a more effective manager, helps you network, increases your decision-making capabilities, increases your productivity, helps get repeat customers, gets you referrals from existing clients, helps you get mentors and protégés, and helps make your workplace a more friendly and enjoyable place to be. 2) Gratitude improves your health in so many ways: it increases sleep quality, increases your energy level so you exercise more, lowers your blood pressure, reduces trips to your doctor, boosts your immune system and makes you less susceptible to disease, increases a positive mood and decreases depression, increases self-esteem, helps reduce the risk of heart disease and just plain helps you live longer! When you maintain the feeling of thankfulness for as little as 15 to 20 seconds, breathing becomes deeper, increasing the oxygen level of your tissues. 3) Gratitude strengthens our emotions and reduces feelings of envy, makes our memories happier, lets us experience good feelings, and helps us bounce back from heartbreaking or difficult situations.

So the next time you feel like complaining, why don’t you think of something to be grateful for and see what happens? I know I am grateful for this beautiful community that we all live in and enjoy and, during this time of year, it shines it’s brightest! So, show your love and support and start the holidays off right by shopping local on White Friday in the Montrose Shopping Park on Friday, Nov. 24 – and all season long! Log onto www.shopmontrose.com to learn when your favorite store will be open and find out what specials that they might be offering. Then gather at the corner of Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue for the town and tree lighting ceremony complete will falling “snow,” carolers, music, the lighting up of the town and tree and, of course, a greeting from Santa! The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. We hope to see you there!

The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the Old Town Christmas season in Montrose that features free horse-drawn trolley rides down the boulevard, carolers to entertain you as you shop, Christmas music throughout the park, free pony rides and a chance to see Santa Claus as he walks through the town on every Saturday and Sunday leading up to Christmas. For specific times of these events, log onto www.shopmontrose.com.

Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce: Your source for all things local! Our mission is to actively support and enrich the community, vitality and pride of Montrose, to help preserve the historic district and small town atmosphere, to promote economic stability and positive, productive relationships within Montrose and the surrounding communities.

Upcoming events
Montrose town and tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at the corner of Ocean View and Honolulu.

Montrose Old Town Christmas from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24 on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Montrose Shopping Park.

Montrose Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. sharp in the 2200, 2300 & 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue in Montrose.

December Tri-Chamber Mega Mixer on Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale 91208.

2018 Annual Community Recognition Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 25 at Oakmont Country Club, 3100 Country Club Dr., Glendale 91208.

  melinda clarke