The Bucket List - Pt 7

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (Philippians 1:3-7 ESV).

These two words, “Thank You,” may be the most powerful words in the English language. They evoke a sense of accomplishment and joy that no other phrase can. So, for the last suggestion of an item for your bucket list, find someone who changed your life and do something special for them as an expression of your gratitude. I can tell you from my own experience that when someone I’ve not had contact me for a while randomly reconnects just to say thank you for a past service, I am always deeply humbled and grateful. And, it is proven to be good for the one saying “thanks” too. Gratitude is an attitude and way of living that has been shown to have many benefits in terms of health, happiness, satisfaction with life, and the way we relate to others. It goes hand in hand with a consistency in focus on the present and appreciation for what we have now, rather than wanting more and more. Feeling and expressing gratitude turns our mental focus to the positive, which compensates for our brain’s natural tendency to focus on threats, worries, and negative aspects of life. As such, gratitude creates positive emotions, like joy, love, and contentment, which research shows can undo the grip of negative emotions, like anxiety. Fostering gratitude can also broaden your thinking and create positive cycles of thinking and behaving in healthy, positive ways. What if today you thought of a person who has made a lasting difference in your life and sought them out to thank them? It’s really easier to do than you may think. Begin by making a list of those who have helped you in some way. It may be a teacher, friend, parent, or mentor. Spend a little time reflecting on the ways they have helped you and the benefits you have gained as a result. Make a bullet-point list of the gist of those things and then write them a short note, call, or visit them to tell them how their help has improved your life. You may wish to use social media as well. Posting to sites like Face Book, Twitter, or Instagram not only expresses gratitude to the person you are thanking, but it encourages others to do so as well. And, wouldn’t it be nice to have your feed full of expressions like these instead of the pointless political rants that typically play such a prominent part of such media today? Help yourself and others too by saying thank you!