While Memorial Day is often associated with backyard barbecues, parades, beach days and weekend trips, it’s important to remember why it’s celebrated in the United States. Memorial Day is observed each year on the last Monday in May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
While Memorial Day only comes around once a year, gratitude is something that should be held each and every day of the year. Even when you’re going through a rough patch, there is always something to be thankful for. Research even shows that feeling gratitude can improve your health and your outlook on life. Here are three important benefits of gratitude:
- Gratitude makes you happier
Feeling grateful for your blessings helps you recognize more and more that there is always something to be grateful for. It fosters positive feelings and serves as a natural mood-booster from the inside out, by raising levels of feel-good chemicals in the brain. The more positive you are, the greater your happiness and well-being.
- Gratitude makes you healthier
Believe it not, feeling grateful can impact your physical health. Studies show that gratitude is linked to improved self-care, such as exercise and eating well. Feeling grateful and focusing on the positive helps nurture self-love and encourage you to make healthier choices.
- Gratitude improves your sleep
The more gratitude you feel, you less likely you are to stress about the little things. If your mind has a tendency to go into overdrive with negative thoughts and worries at bedtime, a little gratitude might be just what you need to calm your nervous system and ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.