Where Gratitude Is Due

As my sophomore year of college comes to a close, I can't help but look back on all of the memories this year has brought me. Lots of fun times, lots of mistakes that have taught me lessons, and overall, lots of people that I am so thankful to have met. I can't even picture where I was or what I was doing this time of year without them! In the spirit of reflection, I've started thinking about all the gratitude I have. Here are the five ways to express gratitude where gratitude is due.

1) Identify your game-changers

Game-changers are the things that have in some way transformed your life or given you a new purpose. These are the aspects of your life that make you sit down and think, "Wow, what would I do without it?" Game-changers can be people we've met, experiences we've had, things we have obtained, or jobs/roles we have taken on. We all have a few game-changers that stick out as great influencers for where we are standing today at this very moment. This past year, I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of game-changers. I've also had a lot of transformative roles be my game-changers. A lot of things come around that don't seem to be as impactful as they turn out to be, and that's one of the reasons I believe in giving everything a shot. The next game-changer can be right around the corner if we just take the time to try.

2) Consider everything you're grateful for in a given day

For those of you who enjoy lists, this is one of my favorites to make. At the end of the day, sit down and reflect on the things you're grateful for in a given day. It can be as simple as seeing your roommate on campus, a professor that makes you laugh, having a job, enjoying a nice meal. For those of us who are always seeking more and more, the easiest way to ground yourself is to remind yourself of what you have in the present. If you feel unsatisfied, think about the things you have that others may not. It can be as simple as the bare necessities.

3) Think back on the past 365 days; what do you have now that you didn't have then?

This post is mostly inspired by my reflection on sophomore year, so for me, this has been the most impactful way to be grateful. In the past 365 days, you have met people, you have tried new things, and you have probably made some choices that turned out differently than you expected, good or bad. Everything in the past 365 days has had some kind of takeaway if you just take the time to think about it. If you try to picture yourself a full year ago to the day, you can probably guess what was different. There were people who ain't come into your life yet, things you hadn't tried, and experiences that were lingering right around the corner. We can all be grateful for something in the past year that has shaped us into the person looking back in the mirror today.

4) Think about yourself, but not in a self-centered way

There are things about you that you should take pride in. We all have traits and qualities that we like or appreciate, and a lot of them come from other things or people around us. Reflect on your strengths and talents, and then try to connect them to an external force that influenced you in some way. Are you naturally great at math, or did that professor inspire you to study hard and learn? Did your boss promote you just because you're positive, or did you do something above and beyond that impressed them? The question we should be asking ourselves is, "What attributes can we attribute to someone/something else?"

5) Say thank you in any way you can

This is the simplest, yet most powerful form of gratitude. This kind of gratitude spreads when we pass it along. I believe that college students have the most "thank you's" to say compared to every other person in the world. If you aren't already, get comfortable with expressing your thanks to everyone around you. Thank your parents for helping you move in every year. Thank your roommates for making you laugh. Thank your group mates for putting their work into that project. Thank your professors for their time in office hours. Thank every person that holds the door or elevator for you. Thank you is powerful. We don't think about it, but those thank you's that we give can be more impactful than we can imagine. If you believe someone deserves your gratitude, give it. It's free and it will keep on giving.

xo Kate