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10 Surprising Ways to Express and Extend Thanksgiving Gratitude

We have so much to celebrate on this day and throughout the year

Alexandra Frost,

AARP Experience Counts

Published November 21, 2024

thank you letter with a turkey in an envelope

Paul Spella (Getty 2)

It’s the season to remember your reason, so they say. Gratitude practices are at the heart of holiday traditions, from Thanksgiving through multiple cultures’ winter holidays, and for good reason. Researchers have found gratitude just might be the secret to a truly happy life. What better day than Thanksgiving to give a gratitude practice a go?

According to UCLAHealth.org research, practicing gratitude (such as journaling, or just thinking grateful thoughts) for just 15 minutes per day, five days a week for at least six weeks can significantly boost mental wellness.

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The International Journal of Depression and Anxiety reviewed 70 studies (with a study pool of more than 26,000 people) and found that higher levels of gratitude and lower levels of depression were associated.

But the benefits don’t stop with the mind. A 2021 research review found that respondents practicing grateful thoughts or keeping a daily gratitude journal exhibited a significant drop in diastolic blood pressure (the force your heart exerts between beats). This slows down the heart and synchronizes the breathing with the heartbeat, leading to a healthier heart overall.

Before you get overwhelmed planning an elaborate gratitude practice for the holidays or any day, remember to keep it simple. Research has found that just a single grateful thought immediately increases happiness by 10 percent and reduces depressive symptoms by 35 percent. However, the effects dissipated within three to six months of the study which is a good reminder to practice gratitude daily. The trend is catching on — over 50 percent of respondents in a May survey say they experience gratitude quite a lot.

Here are 10 ways to give it a try:

1. At Thanksgiving this year, start the tradition of “thankful rolls.” These rolls are baked with “I am thankful for” sentiments in them. During the meal, each person can read what is written in their roll aloud for others to reflect on the sentiment (or try and guess who the author is!).

2. Involve your kids or grandkids in expressing gratitude. Encourage them to write thank you notes to their loved ones or people who have impacted their lives. Kids are surprisingly grateful people and they’ll probably inspire you to do better at expressing your own gratitude.

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3. Host a Friendsgiving party with people you are grateful for. “Think out of the box and host a brunch that is more low-key and relaxed versus a dinner,” Abbey Sangmeister, therapist, burnout coach and founder of Evolving Whole in New Jersey and Philadelphia, told AARP Experience Counts.

4. Send a thank you note sharing how someone impacted your life. Do you have a favorite childhood teacher who left their mark on your life? A medical provider that went out of their way to make you feel comfortable? A neighbor who brings garden produce or little gifts for your kids? No matter how many years it’s been, it’ll bring a smile to their face and will probably leave them wanting to return the favor in their own life. You’ve just created a chain of gratitude. with a little time and pen and paper!

5. Leave an encouraging note for someone to find in their daily activities. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple “You’re doing great!’ will have a bigger impact than you can imagine.

6. Surprise your waiter or waitress with a large tip this holiday season. They often get overlooked when it comes to expressing gratitude due to their service job, but don’t. When they’re providing exceptional and personable service, a generous tip might be just the push they need to get through their longer days of serving others.

7. Pay it forward in the drive-through lane. My kids still talk about the time we paid for the people behind us in a Dairy Queen drive-through. We never knew the people behind us, but the honks in appreciation and thumbs-ups made for a great teaching moment and core memory for them.

8. Give an anonymous donation this holiday season. Do you have a favorite charity or a cause that’s dear to your heart? A gift without recognition is the true art of gratitude.

9. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. They always need additional help serving meals or stocking pantries so give it your time. You’ll walk away feeling good and more grateful for the burdens or worries you don’t have to carry. (And you’ll probably be a bit more empathetic too!)

10. Integrate an outdoor activity into your Thanksgiving celebration. “Get out in nature as a family and give back to the environment that is around you. We often take nature for granted. But find ways to support your environment and community. Some examples could be: Becoming active in clean up, volunteering time planting trees, creating a natural habitat and garden around your own home and participating in wildlife or marine conservation efforts, and always giving a financial donation is good,” Sangmeister said. “Doing this as a family is a great way to build connection and education and help restore our environment.”

Alexandra Frost is a Cincinnati-based journalist, content marketing writer, copywriter and editor. She is the granddaughter of a veteran, and her work has been published in The Washington Post and Reader’s Digest. You can learn more about her at alexandra-frost.com.

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