Student to Student - Practice Gratitude

November 11, 2021 - Chris Naranjo

Hello Lobos, 

Chris Naranjo is wearing a dress shirt and tie and smiling.It feels as though it has been forever since I last wrote to you all! I hope everyone is doing amazing and the semester is going strong! As for myself, it has honestly been really hard acclimating back to in-person everything. I just feel as though there is just not enough time in the day, especially now with Daylight Savings Time, I can’t seem to get enough sun, haha!  

To try and combat this, I have been trying to maintain a better routine, get more physical activity in, and eating better. I have already felt so much better after only doing this for a few weeks.  

I don’t know about you all, but I am so excited for Thanksgiving—I can already taste the apple pie. Besides all the yummy food, I am also really excited to hang out with my family and friends. This is my first semester in college, where I haven’t seen my family weekly and it has been really hard on me. I think it has been close to 3 months that I haven’t seen them, and I am so eager to just spend even a little bit of time with them. This time apart has really proved to me why I am grateful for them, and I want to try and express that more. So, I need to work on that.  

With that being said, November is National Gratitude Month so I urge you to take into consideration all the things you are grateful for and express those feelings, it will help you feel so much better.  So, take the time to call your parents, hang out with a close friend you haven’t seen in a while, or email that professor that really encouraged you!  

While it is so important to show your gratitude to others, it is also so important to show gratitude to yourself. This can mean taking the time to appreciate all you have accomplished, giving yourself the time to just breathe, or spending time with those you love most. One of my favorite quotes that really encourages me to express gratitude is from Will Arnett, “I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope this season brings so much gratitude, happiness, and fond memories!  

As always Lobos, stay safe, stay healthy, and be kind to one another! 

--Chris from SHAC Health Promotion

 

P.S. Please remember that our COVID numbers are increasing rapidly and we all still need to be preventative in our approach! Wash your hands, wear your mask, and stay home if you don’t feel good. We can do this, Lobos! 

P.P.S. Even though I will be eating pie this year, eat a slice for me too, haha!