This week I wanted to make a block print that featured gratitude, so I started to research symbols for gratitude. I learned there is no single universal symbol of gratitude, but the most widely recognized modern symbol is a spiral with three dots below it, often including the Hawaiian makau (fish hook) symbol which holds deep spiritual meaning in their culture. Legend has it the demigod Māui used a magical fish hook called "Mānaiakalani" to pull the Hawaiian Islands from the depths of the ocean. This story makes the makau powerful symbolism with many meanings, including gratitude for all we can bring forth into our lives with dedication and hard work. I was also curious which flower is most associated with gratitude and I discovered it is the sunflower (one of my absolute favorites!). So I brought these elements together and created a mini block print to use on my pressed American Heart Leaves. We can all use reminders to refocus on gratitude - all year long, not just in November - especially when life gets really stressful. Here are some quotes that highlight why gratitude is so important:
- "Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." — Henry Ward Beecher
- "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." — Jean Baptiste Massieu
- "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." — Meister Eckhart
- "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more." — Melody Beattie
- "When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in." — Kristin Armstrong
- "Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." — Melody Beattie
A quick google search on the importance of practicing gratitude will show there are many published medical studies that prove practicing gratitude can have a profound healing affect on the nervous system by helping to reduce stress and anxiety. It may also reduce depression and improve sleep. Here are some ideas for incorporating a gratitude practice into your daily life:
- Journal in the morning or just before bed and list 5 things you are grateful for that day.
- Write or print "I am grateful for this moment" on a large piece of paper and hang it by your desk or somewhere you will see it often.
- Keep a note in your phone titled "Grateful" and take a quick note whenever something positive happens in your day. Read through this note when you are having a bad day to get recentered.
- Let the people around you know how you are grateful for them, what value they bring to your life or how they improve your day to day.
- Instead of thinking about all that you want and can't have, list everything you DO have. Circle three things on this list that bring you a lot of joy. Considering gifting duplicates of one or more of these items to someone you sense could use a pick me up.
- Write a simple thank you note to someone - it can even be a simple sticky note left on a mirror or dropped by their desk. You might be surprised at how much sunshine a simple line or two can bring to someone's day.
- Collect one of my gratitude sunflower block prints and put it somewhere you will see it every day :)