Read Grateful Challenge
November tends to be a gloomy month. Daylight hours shrink, and the weather is often cloudy and chilly. The holidays are a family celebration for many people, but for others, they bring a sense of loneliness and loss as COVID continues to keep people apart and memories of the people who have passed away resurface with renewed vigor.
So what’s the good news? There’s a very simple remedy to help lift your spirits when your environment doesn’t. Research suggests that focusing your attention on gratitude can help you feel better, resulting not only in better peace of mind but also in improved physical health.
According to Harvard Medical School, “Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives…. Being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals – whether to other people, nature or a higher power” (“Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier,” Harvard Health Publishing, August 14, 2021).
This month, Botetourt County Libraries invite you to participate in our “Read Grateful” challenge, available through the free app Beanstack. Read for 10 hours (any books you like) and complete several activities that increase your sense of gratitude throughout this month. It’s the perfect preparation for Thanksgiving!
Reading is easy, but what activities do we suggest? We have six activity badges available in our Beanstack app. “Book Recommendations: Wonder” gives specific book titles that focus on thankfulness, separated into different age groups. Find a title that interests you, check it out from the library, and enjoy!
The badge “Gratitude Jar: Cozy Cup” invites you to use a Mason jar or other container to store notes of gratitude. Fill your jar throughout November, then go back and re-read what you wrote to remember how fortunate you really are.
In the “Gratitude Ritual: Gratitude Journal” badge, we’re helping you start a habit recommended by psychologists and religious practitioners everywhere. That is, take a few moments every day to write down a few things you’re grateful for in a journal. It’s a great way to begin and/or end your day on the right note, and it has been shown to increase your sense of well being and contentment.
The “Sharing Is Caring: Little Things” badge encourages you to spread the joy by telling friends and family what you’re grateful for. Tip: If you’re grateful for them and everything they’ve added to your life, tell them! The next badge, “What Is Gratitude? Give a Helping Hand” prompts you to think about how gratitude impacts your own life in a positive way.
Finally, we’d love for you to join us in our #BOCOGRATEFUL campaign, where we share positive messages on social media as we remember why Botetourt County is such an amazing place to live, work and play. Social media gets a bad rap for its negativity, so let’s turn it around together – post your message of gratitude today!
