​If you celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a time to get together with family and friends and a time to share some laughs and create new memories. Thanksgiving is also a time to be thankful and grateful. But what does that mean? What does that look like? And why is it a good thing?

Benefits to being grateful

Practicing daily gratitude today and everyday has many benefits such as, ​
  • Improves your immune system
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces cortisol levels (a stress hormone in the body)
  • Reduces aggression
  • Reduces stress
  • Decreases depression and anxiety
  • Improves closeness in your relationships with others.
So, taking the time to be grateful not only comes across as being nice towards others, which is a perk, but also has many health and personal benefits. ​

​Here is a small list of things you can do and say to show you are grateful.

What you can do: 

  • Put your phone down
  • Write a letter saying why you are thankful to have someone in your life
  • Write a note to yourself about what you are thankful for this year
  • Offer to clean up
  • Ask to help make a dish for your family
  • Compliment someone when you speak with them

What you can say:

  • With family, friends, your partner, or just self-reflection, here are some conversation starters that revolve around being grateful and thankful.
  • What is your favorite dish that you learned from your family and why?
  • What’s the best thing that happened to you today?
  • What memory happened this year that always makes you smile?
  • What is something you cannot live without?
  • Ask older aunts and uncles, parents or grandparents, how they met?
  • Say thank you
  • I love you
  • I appreciate you
  • What does family mean to you?

​Taking the time to be present in conversations and to be intentional in how you connect is a way to boost your relationships with people. Take advantage of the opportunity you are given with family and friends this Thanksgiving and get to know them a bit more.

This holiday season I challenge you to find different in which you can show you are grateful!


By: Priscilla Rodriguez, M.S., LMFT

As Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I help individuals and couples utilize how to be grateful as a way to show appreciation and increase closeness within relationships. Contact me to find out how you can increase gratitude and appreciation in your life.

Want to say “thank you”?

Priscilla Rodriguez, M.S., LMFT (she/her/hers)

Priscilla is the owner and founder of Modern Wellness Counseling and is passionate about helping people learn how to implement healthy relationship skills and learn how to take care of their mental wellbeing.

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