Bay Shore NY
5-21-2024 5:01pm

Gratitude

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - GRATITUDE

I'm feeling grateful this week. There's good reason for it. I finally graduated college with my Bachelor's Degree, but that's not the only reason. The love and praise I received from friends, family, and co-workers this past week has been beyond what I could have imagined. Thank you. That's why I feel so grateful. 

So, what is gratitude and how does it affect us? Gratitude is feeling thankful for what we have. It feels like it's enough. Gratitude also takes us into the moment. It calms us down and makes us feel at ease. It's also a feeling of appreciation for someone's kindness, which can take many forms such as a gift, holding a door, wishing us a good day, or congratulating us. It's through someone's generosity to another person that we can feel grateful.

The word comes from the Latin word gratus, which means "pleasing" or " thankful". Gratitude has been a part of several world religions. It also has been a topic of interest to ancient, medieval, and modern philosophers. The discipline of psychology attempts to understand the short-term experience of gratitude (state gratitude), individual differences in how frequently gratitude is felt (trait gratitude), the relationship between these two, and the therapeutic benefits of gratitude. 

The benefits of gratitude can be split into five groups and have noticeable effects:

  • Emotional benefits
  • Social benefits
  • Personality benefits
  • Career benefits
  • Health benefits 
  • Better sleep
  • Better immunity
  • Higher self-esteem
  • Decreased stress
  • Lower blood pressure

Across the board, gratitude can add well-being to many facets of our lives. Studies show evidence that expressing gratitude to our significant other results in improved quality in the relationship. Showing our gratitude to loved ones is a great way to make them feel good, make us feel good, and make the relationship better in general. This goes for friendships and business relationships, too.

On a more personal level, showing our gratitude not only helps others feel more positively, it also makes us think more positively. Regular gratitude journaling has been shown to result in 5% to 15% increases in optimism, meaning that the more we think about what we are grateful for, the more we find to be grateful for. Gratitude can also increase our spiritualism. The more spiritual you are, the more likely you are to be grateful, and vice versa.

Being grateful has many advantages. When you feel down, stop for a moment and think about all of the good things in your life that you are deeply grateful for. It's easy to focus on lack, but focusing on abundance can lift our spirits and make us feel really good. That's something to be grateful for.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, we have a lot to be grateful for. I'm grateful to still be alive. Aren't you?

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - SOUNDVIEW HOTEL IN GREENPORT

This hotel is a rare gem on Long Island's North Fork. The charming simplicity of Sound View's guest rooms is influenced by classic Modernist, North Fork beachside homes. Every room has two sets of doors, one with direct access from the outside path system, the other with direct access to our private beach. They are perfectly situated to disconnect completely from the world and reconnect directly with nature. This is my pick for the best staycation destination this summer.

For more information, visit www.soundviewgreenport.com or call 1-631-477-1910 for reservations. Soundview Hotel is located at 58775 County Road in Greenport, New York. 

SKYLARK'S PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Dear God,

May gratitude become a natural state of being. Amen.

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What are you grateful for? 

Please put your answer in the Reply bubble below next to the Heart. I'd love to hear from you. Thank you.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - I THANK YOU by SAM & DAVE

<!-- EMBEDDED YOUTUBE URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLKiyo48VJI -->

LYRICS

I want everybody to get up off your seat
And get your arms together, and your hands together
Give me some of that old soul clapping
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
You didn't have to squeeze me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
If you took your love to somewhere else
I wouldn't know what it meant to be loved to death
You made me feel like I've never felt
Kisses so good I had to holler for help
You didn't have to squeeze me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
You didn't have to hold me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
Every day was something new
You pull out your bag, and you're fine to do
You got me trying new things too
Just so I can keep up with you
You didn't have to shake me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
You didn't have to make me like you did
But you did, but you did
And I thank you
All my life I've been short chain
Without your love, baby, it's a crying shame
And now, I know what the fellas are talking about
When they say that they been turned out
I want to thank you, thank you
Thank you (oh, baby)
Thank you, baby (yeah, yeah)
Oh, baby (I gotta be thanking)
Got to say
You didn't have to love me like you did
But you did, but you did, uh
(And I thank you)
You didn't have to hold me like you did
But you did, but you did
(And I thank you)
Thank you (thank you, baby)
Baby (got to thank you)
Thank you (oh baby)
Thank, I've got, I've got to thank you, baby (thank you, baby)
Oh, baby (thank you, baby)
Ooh, thank you (ooh, thank you)
Oh, baby
You (thank you, thank you, oh, thank you)

ABOUT MY BRAND, SKYLARK LIVE

My brand, Skylark Live, was born out of my turning 60 and noticing a profound shift in this age. I wanted to talk about it and share what I was experiencing with the hope of helping other women as well. My brand consists of a weekly newsletter and a monthly vlog designed to motivate and inspire women over 60 to thrive in older age through knowledge and self-awareness. I’m in the process of formulating in-person presentations called The Skylark Sessions. These can be conducted in someone’s home, local library, or senior center.

Weekly Newsletter - My weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, features articles about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, motivation, music, places I've been to, and ideas I want to explore. I represent Bay Shore and towns beyond. There is also a calendar of events. I throw in Italian words, too, because I love the language and all things Italian. Bella Italia! As a paying subscriber, you will receive my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. That gives you a head's up. You can also advertise your business or event on my newsletter. Just click this link to subscribe: For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

Monthly Vlog - My first Monday-of-the month vlog, 60 and Beyond with Skylark, is a recap of what I've written about in my newsletters throughout the previous month. Then, I introduce a unique topic for the current month's vlog. My vlog is recorded and posted on my YouTube channel as well as on my Patreon account and my social media sites. Just click my YouTube channel link below to subscribe: www.youtube.com/@christineskylark

WHERE TO FOLLOW AND SUPPORT ME ON PATREON AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Patreon - This is where you can support my brand for just $5 a month. This enables me to carve out time to write my newsletters, create my vlogs and to expand my brand. Just click the link below: www.patreon.com/SkylarkLive

Social Media - You can follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

Thank you for your love and support. Andiamo! Let's Go!

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