Senior Spotlight: Gratitude + Aging Well

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” (John F. Kennedy)

As Thanksgiving arrives next week, it’s a natural time to turn our hearts and minds towards what we are thankful for. Those of you who now me also know that this is my favorite holiday, and most of us would agree that it’s unfortunate we wait until this time of year to focus on what we are grateful for; why don’t we do it all the time?

The National Council On Aging (NCOA)® agrees – and this fall published an article about how not only can being thankful help us feel happier, it can also improve our health! In the article titled ‘The Many Gifts of Gratitude and Its Role in Aging Well’, we are reminded that "When things are going well in our lives, it can be relatively easy to express gratitude. But what happens when things are not going so well? It’s at these moments when we need gratitude the most."

Furthermore, when we intentionally embrace and express a  sense of gratitude, our brains release serotonin and dopamine, two chemicals that are linked to pleasure and a positive mood. The NCOA® states that these higher levels are strongly linked to:

- Improved sleep:  Gratitude lowers stress & anxiety, which in turn makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

- Reduced Depression:  A growing body of research links gratitude to an increase in optimism and resilience in the face of challenges.

- Calmed Nervous System: Expressing gratitude can help calm the ‘fight or flight’ response that occurs in your nervous system, by lowering heart rate.

- Lower Blood Pressure:  The American Heart Association even advocates that incorporating thankfulness into daily routines lowers blood pressure, thus protecting heart health and even improving our body’s ability to fight off illness as we age!

Check out this inspiring graphic from the American Heart Association below and be sure to share the health benefits and practice tips with those you love. The only thing better than living with intentional gratitude – is being surrounded by it in those you love.

With sincere thanks to you and heartfelt gratitude for the gifts of the year,



Bobbi

Bobbi Decker
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