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Heritage Program for Seniors at VCHS: Cultivating Gratitude Enriches Life

By cultivating gratitude, you begin a cycle that actually attracts healthy self-esteem, a positive attitude and good things into your life. No matter who you are, what circumstances you are facing or how overwhelming life may seem at times, there are always reasons to be thankful. When you live your life with an attitude of thankfulness, you begin to see yourself and the world in a different light.

When you acknowledge what is right in life, you experience greater joy, confidence and trust in your ability to successfully meet and deal with the challenges of life. Problems do not seem as overwhelming when you take a few moments each day to count your blessings and appreciate those who enrich your lives.

Begin cultivating gratitude by making a gratitude list and read it regularly as a reminder to be thankful every day. Research has shown that people who practice gratitude everyday are healthier and happier. A daily practice of cultivating gratitude can transform your thoughts and, as a result, enrich your life.

What are you grateful for?

Using a Gratitude List

  • Start by picking items from our list below that reflect what you are grateful for, or create your own.
  • Read your list aloud, slowly and actually feeling grateful.
  • Notice how you feel when you make the time for cultivating gratitude.

I am grateful for....

  • A roof over my head. I am thankful I have a home and a safe place to lay my head at night.
  • I am grateful I have clothes to keep me warm and dry and shoes to protect my feet. I am thankful that I have several outfits to choose from, so I can feel comfortable, confident, and beautiful.
  • I am thankful I have a car, so I can drive to work, the mall, or visit a friend.
  • I am thankful I have a television, so I can watch shows that make me laugh, cry, or keep me informed.
  • Friends and community. I am thankful for the groups of people I am connected with, the clubs I participate in, and the charities I am able to serve.
  • I am grateful I have good and healthy food to eat and safe water to drink.
  • I am thankful I am alive and live in a free country.
  • My dreams. I am thankful I have the freedom to dream and to pursue those dreams
  • My skills and talents. I am thankful I have the skills I need to read, write, and do the work I choose.
  • The opportunity to give. I am proud of the contributions I make to the lives of those around me.
  • My Parents. I am thankful for the parents who raised and encouraged me.
  • My Siblings. I am thankful for brothers and sisters who are friends as well as siblings.
  • My spouse/partner. I am thankful I have a partner who loves me.
  • I am thankful for friends who make me laugh and are always there whenever I need them, to support and encourage me.
  • My work. I am thankful I have a job and a good working relationship with my
  • My Pet. I am thankful for my dog, who always is excited to see me and makes me laugh.
  • I am grateful for those little things that I often take for granted, including a breathtaking sunset, my child's laughter, a mountaintop view, and the warmth of the sun.

A gratitude list is the perfect way to begin cultivating gratitude in your life. Read it daily and add to it regularly. Soon, being thankful will come naturally, and you will begin to enjoy all the benefits of a life governed by gratitude.

Enriching life, in part through cultivating gratitude, is a focus of the Heritage Program for Seniors at VCHS. As an individualized outpatient behavioral health program for adults 55-plus, the Heritage Program improves the lives of those in central Nebraska through creating a confidential, welcoming, and comfortable therapeutic environment to address mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and grief. The Heritage Program’s team of psychiatrists, therapists and mental health technicians lead multiple individual and group sessions every week to meet the needs of clients, as well as provide caregiver support and community education. For more information about the Heritage Program for Seniors at VCHS, call 308.728.4340.

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