A viral video of Ohio students pausing between classes to express gratitude has captured national attention. 

Administrators at Monroe Local Schools set up a microphone in a school hallway with a note that said, “Tell us something good that happened today.” On the video posted Nov. 7, students talked about their achievements of the day, compliments from teachers and restored relationships. One girl mentioned her excitement of meeting a new student and considering her a new friend. Another said she and her mother were talking more and that their relationship had improved. Several students were thankful for good grades earned on tests. And one young man said he had found a new passion - wrestling.

          People have been inspired by the positive and personal nature of the comments and the joy expressed by the students. Administrators planned more of these gratitude videos leading up to Thanksgiving.

I wonder if my family would mind if I did a similar project at our Thanksgiving gathering. I could ask them to tell me something good that happened to them this year. While I look forward to the turkey with stuffing and pumpkin pie, reflecting on our blessings is important not only on Thanksgiving, but every day. 

I love the Monroe schools project because it teaches the students to practice gratitude by reflecting on their day. According to psychologists, gratitude is more than just saying thank you. It starts with noticing the goodness in life and understanding it comes from outside of ourselves. 

Thankfulness is usually a response to a person or an event. “Gratitude is the lens of appreciation that enables us to see the good things in our everyday lives,” said Niro Feliciano, psychotherapist and national media commentator. 

“When you make gratitude a simple but regular practice, joy often follows,” Feliciano said. “One of my favorite quotes is, ‘It’s not joyful people who are grateful, it’s grateful people who are joyful.’”

Practicing gratitude, she said, can improve our lives in many ways. Overall, it boosts our mental and physical health. Research has shown that people who are grateful feel less pain, less stress, suffer insomnia less, have stronger immune systems and experience healthier relationships.

          Here’s a quick exercise to practice gratitude:

• Take a deep breath and center yourself
• Think of one thing that went well today, no matter how small.
• Reflect on why it mattered and how it made you feel.
• If it involves someone else, consider sharing your appreciation with them. That could involve a visit, call, text or thank you note.

Other ways to practice gratitude include:

• Keep a journal or in some way document big and little joys in life.
• Write down three good things - identify three things that have gone well for you and identify the cause.
• Think about people who have inspired you and what about them are most significant.
• Engage in “mental subtraction.” Imagine what your life would be like if some positive event had not occurred or some person was not in your life. 

As you gather to celebrate this holiday, try to think about what's good in your life and where it comes from. It’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.