Healthy Gratitude

Dear Healthcare Colleague,

This time of year, right before Thanksgiving the weather begins to get cool and will dip to freezing once in a while as the cold fronts begin to find their way in. Before the weather gets too cold, I ventured out on a hike. The trail was blanketed with brown, red and orange hues from the leaves that had lost their grip of their branch. The crisp cool weather made the sun feel more like a picture than an actual heat source. As I walked through the arching fall colored trees, the sense that the fall season was in full display was evident. I have heard many times how seasons change so rapidly. It seems that summer had just started days ago or for that matter, spring and last winter too.

Still, here we are right at the Thanksgiving time of year. What are you grateful for? Has someone shared with you that they are grateful for you or for the work that you are doing? We are part of an industry in which we spend our most valuable resources (skills and time) to help make the lives of those around us better. So, what happens when someone is grateful for something you were a part of? For me, I often feel this inner smile spread within me. In the past I have received several “Thank you” cards. You would think that gratitude always comes from heroic or monumental deeds yet the deepest cards of thanks come from the hearts of people that felt appreciated, cared for and seen. It got me thinking that in November it would be a great time to tell those we are thankful, that we appreciate them, we see that they care and how they have stood with us makes a difference. I think Thanksgiving is one of the healthiest holidays. Well, maybe not if you overdo it with the Thanksgiving meal but rather for the health benefits in reflecting on what we are grateful for. The Mayo Clinic has even recorded the following on the health benefits of being grateful:

“Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. If a pill that could do this, everyone would be taking it.”

Not suggesting that we go out and bottle or make gratitude into a pill. However, I do think that as we work in healthcare, taking time to be grateful for what we have and where we serve, makes a difference. I also, think about the time we spend at work serving those in our community and how season after season and despite all that is happening around us…the care you are a part of providing is constant. Many in our communities are grateful that you are working today. That you are serving them and their families today. Thank you for your time and service this and every season.

Your Friend,

Luis Chanaga


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