Experts in Gratitude
Today is the annual tradition of gathering with loved ones, eating a ridiculous amount of food, and acknowledging the good things that we experience throughout the year. Gratitude is an exercise, not a feeling. And frankly, I'm out of shape. I don't know about you, but I struggle to remain "thankful" on a day-to-day basis.
The challenges that I face trying to be present for my family, lead an organization tackling a systemic crisis, raise the necessary revenue needed to pay our incredible staff, and help thousands of people escape the debilitating experience of homelessness can feel overwhelming. It's so easy for me to focus on all the reasons to be anxious or angry instead of acknowledging the good things God has placed in my life.
Ironically, the people who have taught me the most about gratitude are the friends I've made who are living day-to-day in the streets of New York City and New Jersey.
I was walking around Bryant Park a few years back with a group of young volunteers from out of state when we met a man who looked like Santa Claus. He was sitting on a bench when we approached him and asked if he could use some new socks and toiletries. He lit up like a Christmas tree. "New socks? Yes, please!"
We ended up chatting for a while. In that conversation, he shared that his phone had died and he didn’t know what the problem was. I asked him if I could take a look. After a few minutes of fiddling, I remembered I had a portable charger in my bag. I plugged it in and within moments, his phone came back to life.
"It just needed a charge!" he exclaimed, absolutely over the moon. "Thank you so much! I can't believe you guys came around just when I needed it with exactly what I needed!"
We laughed and talked some more, but I walked away struck by how grateful this man was for a pair of socks and a charged phone—things I take for granted every single day.
Sometimes I wonder if my anxiety and my gratitude are mutually exclusive. What if I practiced "thanksgiving" every day instead of once a year?
Studies show that gratitude has measurable power:
People who regularly practice gratitude report 25% higher life satisfaction (University of California, Davis).
Gratitude journaling just three times a week has been shown to lower stress and reduce symptoms of depression (University of Pennsylvania).
Neuroscientists have found that expressing thanks activates the brain's "reward pathways," increasing resilience and improving sleep and emotional regulation.
And perhaps most compelling: grateful people are more generous, more connected, and more compassionate—the very qualities that repair the world.
In other words, gratitude doesn't just make us feel better. It makes us better at loving our neighbors. So, as we gather around the table today and acknowledge the blessings around us, let us take this feeling into tomorrow, and the next day, and the next to continue exemplifying gratitude in the ways we care for others.
Giving Tuesday is coming up on December 2nd. In the spirit of becoming experts in gratitude, I'll be sending some stories from our friends on the street, volunteers, and staff over the next five days.
I hope these stories will help us all get into a holiday spirit of gratefulness, gratitude, and thoughtfulness—not because life is easy, but because God is good. And if you’re able to get to Manhattan on Wednesday, December 3rd, you should definitely join us for a special evening of music and beauty as we celebrate the birth of our Savior at our annual Christmas Concert.
Wishing you and the people you love a warm, joyful, and deeply grateful Thanksgiving.
With gratitude,
Josiah Haken
City Relief, CEO
