Gratitude is more important than prosperity in determining happiness.
The field of positive psychology has established a link between gratitude and health. Grateful people sleep better than highly driven people. They take time to eat with their family rather than working late. They prepare their food more often than eating out. They value recreation and fitness about performance. These traits that coincide with gratitude contribute to physical and mental health, a stronger immune system, and fewer diseases.
Countries with high poverty, such as India possess happier citizens than countries with high prosperity, such as Japan. What is the difference? The people in India are thankful for what they have where the Japanese tend to strive constantly for more in a cultural quest for six-sigma perfection.
People with a healthy sense of well being have more self-confidence and friends, and they make more effective leaders. Therefore, it pays to be thankful for one's life and accomplishments. When someone is always striving for something bigger, better, faster, or more, this striving can be less productive than pausing to give thanks for what is here now.
"True Wealth is Psychological Wealth".
(sorry I can't credit the site that provided me with these facts - can't find it now)
73 comments:
Great Thanksgiving post. We all have a lot to be thankful for. One of the first things that comes to mind is that I have 4 days off. Whoppee! And very thankful that I have a job to be thankful to be off from.
As I said at the end of the last thread: Please, anyone that has a Thanksgiving Post, please feel free to put it up at any time. This one is just a spur of the moment post, because I knew our comments on the last thread were getting close to running over 200.
I once went to hear the Dalai Lama speak and will never forget his comment about the US. We have so much, including a cabinet full of pills to make us feel better.
Thank you for inviting me into your community.
And very thankful for all my blog friends. And thankful for Iphoney who lets me take them with me wherever I go.
Don,
See what I mean....I thank each and everyone of you..and that included Jan, and Maria (Mary)...not my sister...
Carol, To answer your question from the last thread, my menu tomorrow includes a ham, potatoes (probably mashed, with gravy.. but maybe baked), baked beans, salad and french rolls... although I may add more. My meals tend to grow out of control.
Just to prove my love of desserts, we'll have several choices, including: Pumpkin pie, Keylime Cheesecake, Carrot Cake and Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. A crazy selection, I know. But I love leftovers too.
Solar, Got those hugs from the last thread, and sending them back to you. I hope you're still here.
Chloe, I just noticed your kitty avatar. Nice kitty, kitty, kitty.
Still here. Just waiting around for one more e mail....
Then I can pay attention here ..that is...
You doing all the cooking Chloe or is it a group project?
Whose cooking at your house Rez?
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Afraid that last line might not be possible Ivy. Hi Ivy. Is Ms. College coming to dinner? And whose cooking?
Silly me, I thought you put brandy in cranberries before you baked. This could be interesting.
Life's really changed for me since Emma was born.
I'm no longer free as a bird. Normally we'd go to see whatever new movie is coming out tomorrow (there's always a movie opening on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I always love going out in the morning to see them). I figure in about two years, she'll be old enough to go to movies with us. Restaurants are also more difficult now, as well as just about everything else. But I can assure you that I'm not complaining, and that the tradeoff has been well worth it.
It's quite a satisfying feeling, at this point in my life, that I can contribute to a little tiny human being's quality of life. Good to be able to pass on everything that it's taken me so long to learn. And of course, I get to look at the world through her innocent eyes. Good to love someone so much too. And, she also makes me laugh every day.
I'm grateful for sooooo many things. Hell, I'm grateful to just be alive, to have the chance to experience all the things that I experience every day. As far as I'm concerned, I've arrived. This is it, and I don't 'need' anything more (except maybe a little more freedom, and that will come as she gets a little older). Sooooo, you're not going to hear a lot of complaining coming from this direction. There's just not lots to complain about. And part of the reason for that is you guys too. I'm lucky to be here, and lucky to know you.
"You doing all the cooking Chloe "
I always have help Carol, whenever I need it.
But I'll get things going early. We'll eat in the middle of the day, not late. And I won't need a lot of help, as long as I keep myself organized. Actually, it's not going to be much work anyway. It's one of the spiral cut honey baked hams, and there's not much to do except put it in the oven.
Having those little ones around keeps you young Chloe. That's what I miss the most about the holidays. No little ones. Holidays are for the little ones. Especially Christmas. I just have to pretend I'm still a little one.
"I just have to pretend I'm still a little one."
That's good too Carol. I don't think holidays are 'only' about children. It's fun 'doing' for them, but being an adult is a lot of fun too.
We are going to our friends' house (we did last year's dinner, so this year they wanted to do it). Here is the menu my friend has planned (she can't help herself, she used to be a caterer):
Crab Cake (appetizers);
Velvety Squash Soup;
Candied Walnut & Pear Leafy Green Salad
Turkey with Gravy;
Mashed Potatoes;
Brocollini;
Sweet Corn;
Apple & Squash dish;
Cornbread dressing;
Dinner rolls, and assorted sweet breads
Cranorange, pumpkin and cinnamon apple breads
Desserts: Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding
Pepto Bismol (Walgreen's will be open)
I added that last item. Hubs was asked to make his specialty crab cakes by popular demand; I will make the apple pie, got my dough made for the crust, will roll it out in the a.m. and bake the pie fresh.
Enough food for an army, but there will only be 9 people there. Miss College and her BF are invited there too.
Sounds like a winner Ivy. Maybe you should start the day with Prilosec. Take 30 minutes before your first meal.
I know Thanksgiving is not here yet, but this
week the real Christmas trees arrived at the
roadside farms here & as of today are now
hanging....
And two of the NYC radio stations
switched over to 24/7 Christmas music last weekend.... & they were working at GE on the Christmas tree, cranes setting the netting &
placing the ornaments & lights...
Have you noticed Christmas' arrivfal where you
live....
Wow Ivy, what a feast!
Chloe,
Bill Murray was on Morning Joe to promote his new movie. Did you happen to see the interview? Joe asked him what is HIS favorite movie of all the ones he's made. Bill answered without hesitation, "What About Bob?"
Notice there's no Brussels sprouts. I had made them for this same group last year. I was probably the only one who liked them.
I didn't see it Ivy. But thanks for telling me about it! I haven't even looked at the new releases yet. Will do that tomorrow. I don't think I ever miss any of his movies, not one that I can remember missing anyway.
I'm bringing a large apple pie I bought at Sam's today. Wanted their carmel apple pie but they were out of it by the time I got there. This pie does look good and big enough that if I get a flat on the way to dinner, I can use it as a spare.
I'm not a pasty chef. I did learn to make a beautiful lemon meringue pie, Southern Living's Best Ever Lemon Meringue Pie, several years ago because I had that lemon tree that put on about 300 huge lemons every year. Hurricane Rita took that tree out.
You have to have a really good oven to make that pie and I don't have one out here.
Solar, You forgot 24 last night, so I'm going to slip it into the combination tonight. (did you do that to trick me?)
24,21,20
Christmas decorations are up already at numerous houses around here, trees adorned and lit in the front windows. It seems for some people, Thanksgiving has morphed into a second Christmas. I think it's too early.
Yes Coreen, the Christmas season seems to be starting early this year. I guess they think that if they start early things may turn out better for the stores.
Carol, I was going to go to Sam's for one of their huge apple pies today too! But I just didn't want to put up with the traffic to get there. Our closest one is about a half hour or more away, depending on traffic.
Now Walmarts, there are plenty around. I go to at least five different ones on a regular basis. Depending on which direction I want to go, they're all fairly close. If I want to drive an extra 20 minutes, there's 5 or 6 more. I figure we must have more Walmarts than anyplace in the area.
No. That would not have been fair..say's that in the book-of-Winkle..have to go by the book..
I haven't seen much Christmas stuff yet Coreen, but then maybe I just haven't noticed.
I know starting Friday, that's all that we'll see. It'll start with that big sale, then go none stop until it's past.
What wouldn't be fair Solar? You mean the numbers?
I will start decorating this weekend, but will
not light anything until the first week of December....
First, need to get greens for the driveway poles, then tie on the bows & the lights....
this year the bows are Christmas plaid alternating with red trimmed with gold bows...
not sure which lights to use yet....
Yes.
We'll need some pics Coreen.
You've seen my lights. They were under the hummingbird feeder. I hope I can find some replacement bulbs for the ones I stepped on and broke this summer.
Coreen,
Just for yelling at me (IM sensitive you know) tomorrow. when you are eating your un-frozen canoli...you will remember; Solar..and when asked what you are grinning about....you can not tell them...
It is always an adventure to see which lights
work from year to year!
Do you put up a Christmas tree?
I find that each year I say no more, than when
its time, I just take a deep breath & do it.
Solar, darling, you're on.....but I wasn't yelling at you, just a gentle reminder of how
the 'family' does things.....
LOL Solar. You're the one that left 24 out.
Actually, I shouldn't even be here anymore, since I wrote them.
Just want to make sure before I leave though. We'll start with 19 next time, right?
... nite everyone.
And just in case we miss each other tomorrow
I wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving, I
know I am thankful to have met all of you....
P.S. I have a new post to put up for you all
when Thanksgiving is here.....
I have a little fiber optic christmas tree. It's one that Mary the ex shop-a-holic bought and then decided she wanted something bigger. I do decorate inside because I have that annual Christmas party for my peeps at work.
Right, U owe two moose calls I owe for that mistake..
Hi Folks, Jumping in and out as Jenny and I are sipping on a few Coors and watching the latest news (slow)about uninvited WH dinner guests.
Just got in from playing some blackjack. Poor luck tonight. Thankfully dear wife covered my ass with her luck on the machines.
Carol, No cooking tonite or tomorrow for a change. Tomorrow we're headed to a local eatery for their buffet. A first for us in the nineteen years of being together.
I did buy one of those cheap .27/lb turkeys to roast Sunday for the leftovers we won't have. I wanted a turkey leg and Jenny likes dark meat so instead of just a breast we got a whole bird. I'll make those giant (two per muffin hole) white bread rolls (frozen-Rhodes) to go with the meat and she'll make her award winning pumpkin pie. Yum!
Anyway back to lurking and sipping.
Nite Chloe. And I'll be around tomorrow because wherever I am so are you, thanks to Iphoney.
I freaked today because Iphoney said "no service". I called At&T and they couldn't find what was wrong. I told the girl I talked to there that if she didn't fix the problem she was going to be on call all long weekend to take care of 1300 inmates. She got the problem fixed.
Sounds good Rez. We have the .27 a pound turks around here also, at least I hope they still are. I need a couple for my Christmas Party. I smoke them.
What I'm going to miss the most about not having turkey tomorrow is the turkey gravy. There is nothing better on cornbread dressing than turkey gravy. I think it's my favorite gravy.
Happy Thanks Giving all...
Happy Thanksgiving Tony. You cooking?
Carol,
You got that right regarding corn bread dressing and gravy...Lov it..I just made my corn bread earlier and cooked the celery onions and mushrooms and sage sausage..I'll mix it all tomorrow and bake along with the turkey..
I can smell it from here Tony.
Oh yes i'm cooking..I've got about six coming...I just baked a nice Pumpkin Cheesecake that I will top with caramel and nuts...Hope every one has a good one..Carol,hope you and Maggie are good...
Tony,
That does sound good.!
Carol,
Wish you and Maggie were here,I'd insist you come for dinner..
Tony,
I never heard of that cheesecake..can you put up the recipe when you have time..later thanks..not now...but later during the week or so...must be tired..
Solar,
It is wonderful..I hadn't had the Pumpkin Cheesecake in years,well since everyone died..I just decided to live a little and get on with things..
Thanks Tony. I'm gonna be well taken care of tomorrow.
Solar,
I will put it up soon..It is easy to make and would make a nice dish for X-mas..
Carol,
Good..I cook everything the southern way..Everyone in my family comes from Tenn...Cornbread stuffing only...Ha,its a meal in it self..I do however reserve that southern touch for the Holidays.
Solar,
Will you and Judy be cooking?
Thanks Tony. you just missed Chloe.
Solar,
I saw I just missed Chloe..I posted on her Facebook page..It seems there's just not enough hours in the day..I go back and forth between TV and TM usually, plus all my other reading...I'm watching HOUSE now,well he's on pause..Ever watch that show?Its really good...
Tony,
No. I will be doing the cooking. I made a deal with my Sister Maria's; son Al' wife that I would do the turkey; in exchange for her teaching me how to do my sisters tamales..
I haven't had any better than hers...she left instructions that noone was to get the recipe..if they did not make them at his house first..her way of keeping family together; I think....
I first read that as a .27 lb turkey. Thought those breeders were getting more and more exotic.
Tony, If I were to watch tv; house would be one of the shows on the list...Im having a hard time, of reading all that I want, and watch the science and history channel stuff...like you said; "not enough time in the day" in between all of that..some work outs have to be done no?
Solar,
Sounds like a good deal.Tamales,oh damn i miss my good Michigan Mexican restaurants..Florida sucks for good Mexican food..Michigan had the real deal as many Mexican people came to work for GM and family members opened good restaurants....Authentic that's so important...
night swampers...
Workouts,yes..I skipped tonight,to much cooking..
good night Solar and all
Yeah Tony...I don't know how a taco bell stay in business.
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