How Gratitude Healed My Loneliness

November 23, 2017 by JoAnna 19 Comments

(From my November newsletter)

They say laughter is the best medicine. But the medicine of gratitude reaches deeper into our hearts. Giving thanks for what we have creates positive energy all around us. Gratitude brings more blessings, maybe not right away, but soon.

In my lonely years, I wanted a partner who would be a good fit: respectful, dog-loving, spiritual… My longing softened toward acceptance and even joy when I started to give thanks for what I already had – friends, family, job, home, and that God had a plan for my life. Even though it took a while for my partner to find me, being thankful made me feel better, especially when I made a written list or gave thanks out loud. It helped me realize that my life was good, even without a partner. One of the messages in Trust the Timing, is that we need to be mostly okay as individuals before we can have a healthy relationship. When my partner found me, he shared his own habit of giving thanks at the end of every day. I wonder if gratitude helped lead us back to each other when the time was right.

Every challenge holds an opportunity for thankfulness. I can get overwhelmed by the tasks related to my father’s death in January. Sorting through the things that once belonged to my parents is still hard. But I am thankful for the timing. Dad died right after I retired from my stressful job, so I have time to deal with the physical tasks and the emotional grief. When I miss my parents, I can be thankful that they are together now and don’t miss each other anymore.

Not only can gratitude help us feel better emotionally, it’s good for us physically. Many studies have discovered a connection between gratitude and wellness. This article shows that being thankful is good for our hearts.

I am thankful for you, my readers, for your support and encouragement.
May you have an abundance of blessings to be thankful for now and in the days ahead.

 

 Trust the Timing,
A Memoir of Finding Love Again

makes a great gift for
lonely hearts,
soulmate searchers,
dog lovers,
children of the 70s,
and anyone who likes a happy ending.

To order a copy or write a review,
Please click here.

Happy Thanksgiving!