An Attitude of Gratitude

Posted October 30, 2018,

The holidays are upon us and now is a great time to remind ourselves to slow down, take time, be thankful for family and friends, and be grateful for all that we have.

Studies show that people who are grateful are significantly happier, healthier, and have lower levels of stress and depression. In addition, gratitude breeds joy, enthusiasm, interest, and determination, all great reasons to teach our children an “attitude of gratitude.”

Children are naturally egocentric; from early on it’s clear they believe the world revolves around them. Parents tend to reinforce this idea as we attend to their every need, want and desire. And now, with the internet and technology at our fingertips, everything is faster and oftentimes instant. I see babies, kids and parents constantly engaged and wanting more, instead of appreciating and understanding what they have around them. So how can we teach our children and remind ourselves to appreciate all that we have and to be grateful? Well, the first big challenge is making gratitude an everyday experience. As the idea of gratitude can be abstract for toddlers, children, and even teenagers, it’s important for YOU to live it. Remember, you are your child’s biggest role model and they are watching you. With that being said, it’s up to you to set the example and show some gratitude.

There are countless ways to express gratitude, so why not weave some of these simple suggestions into everyday life:

Show appreciation by conveying you pay attention to real effort – take the time to praise your children when they clean up their toys, help with chores, and/or finish their homework without reminding them.
Remember to say and emphasize “please” and “thank you” as you go about your day. Whether you are thanking them, a friend, or even a stranger who lent a helping hand, saying “thank you” extends beyond manners and demonstrates appreciation.
Encourage volunteering and donations. Helping those less fortunate is a great way to foster generosity and show that we’re all in this together.
Be polite, model good manners and help those around you, reinforcing the importance of kindness.
Be aware and engaged, be mindful of your words and tone; use kind words and appreciate your family.
Life gets busy and days are long, but remember to make room for gratitude. Gratitude not only breeds good manners, kindness and generosity, but it also fosters empathy and other life skills. Without a doubt, instilling grateful feelings in all of us will benefit everyone now and later in life.

And now it’s time to have a wonderful Thanksgiving, enjoy your family and friends, make memories and show some gratitude – it might just be contagious!

grateful, gratitude, kindness, pediatrician, thanksgiving

Gina Rosenfeld, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Dr. Rosenfeld has been practicing as a pediatrician in private practice for over 17 years. She is Board Certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 1994, Dr. Rosenfeld joined Children’s Medical Group and has remained there as a long-term primary caregiver to her young patients in North San Diego County. Dr. Rosenfeld practices direct patient care in the office and hospital setting, as well as a number of other clinical functions. In addition to her clinical roles, Dr. Rosenfeld has worked extensively with pediatric policy. Through her appointment as Chairman of Pediatrics at Palomar Medical Center (1998 to 2000), to her contributions on the CPMG Quality of Care Committee and her appointment to the CPMG Executive Advisory Board, Dr. Rosenfeld has served as a voice for pediatric patients in San Diego. Dr. Rosenfeld completed her Pediatric Residency at The University of California, San Diego. She received her Doctor of Medicine from New York Medical College and her B.A. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from The University of California, San Diego Beyond her career achievements, Dr. Rosenfeld was honored to be named as a New York Medical College Merit Trustee Scholar, the recipient of the Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation and Outstanding Intern in Neonatology at UCSD Medical Center. Dr. Rosenfeld maintains a longstanding affiliation with the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Additionally, Dr. Rosenfeld is an honored recipient of the Patients Choice Award 2008, 2009, 2010 and The Compassionate Doctor Award 2010. Dr. Rosenfeld loves being a mom and remains quite busy outside the office with her husband and two boys.

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