Hi All,
It’s that special time of year when we pause to give thanks for all that we appreciate in our lives. For the Senior Center staff, it is an opportunity to tell each and every one of you how happy we are that you are part of the Center and how honored we are to serve you.
Did you know that gratitude not only feels good in the moment but is actually good for you? An article by the Harvard Medical School https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/ giving thanks-can-make-you-happier) notes that “gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Our personal experiences may bear this out and there has been a lot of focus placed on the benefits of gratitude in the media in recent years. Whether you have a regular practice of gratitude or just sometimes feel it naturally, we hope that this season is a reminder that feeling appreciation for all that is good in our lives is good for us.
November is also a time of honoring those around us. There are events for Veterans Day worth noting . November is also National Family Caregivers Month and Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.
I also want to start a tradition of writing and placing a leaf on the Tree of Thanks in the Tiffany Room . People of all ages can write something for which they feel grateful onto a leaf to be placed on the tree. We can watch it grow throughout the month. Be sure to add your thoughts the next time you are here. Stop by and drop “ a Leaf “ into the basket . Be grateful for the small wonderful moments that have happened to you this past year.
Please join us for an early Thanksgiving at the Council on Aging on Friday November 22nd.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us!
Mary