Gratitude improves health

To The Eagle,

Wow...we just had Thanksgiving and, soon, it will be Christmas and the New Year. While watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and cooking, I was so thankful that they didn't politicize it. Feeling thankful, with the endorphins from gratitude and thankfulness, I realized there was no stress, no anxiety, no feelings of sadness of not being with my family. I was happy. It made me think about our fast-paced existence and what gratitude does to our minds and bodies.

Having feelings of gratitude and thankfulness improves our cardiovascular health, boosting our immune system. It lowers cortisol levels, reducing stress. Quit watching the news and talking politics. Quit thinking everything is hopeless and how awful our leadership is no matter what side of the fence you are standing on.

The division in our world the past few years has bombarded us with news. They have bombarded us with terrible language describing individuals, I know I did. I didn't have room in my heart for gratitude and thankfulness and I became quick tempered, bitter, and depressed. Not only did I feel we were doomed politically, but it rains here all the time. It’s damp and cold, there is nothing to do. You have to drive an hour to shop or do anything.

Recently, I had a spontaneous conversation and I was told “This place is magical. It’s great here,” and so on. I got to thinking; I put back on my rose-colored glasses and gave myself an attitude adjustment.

Instead of thinking, “I am isolated, I don't fit in, there's nothing to do,” I realized how grateful I am to have a car and friends whom I met through the Cathlamet Woman's Club. We carpool into town to shop and have fun.

I realized how grateful and thankful I am that the president of the Cathlamet Woman's Club invited me to their meeting. I have become a member and I have been serving the community. My hour drive suddenly looked beautiful along the Columbia River, listening to music and enjoying the quiet solitude. I became thankful and grateful. My depression and my health have improved.

Lauralee Relethford

Skamokawa