Seeking An Attitude of Gratitude

Activities That Encourage an “Attitude of Gratitude”

By Dr. Linda Karges-Bone

There's a certain Slant of light,

Winter Afternoons–

That oppresses, like the Heft

Of Cathedral Tunes—

Emily Dickinson (No. 258, c. 186

A sad tale's best for winter.

William Shakespeare (A Winter’s Tale)

In the bleak midwinter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter,

Long ago.

Christina Rossetti ( A Christmas Carol)

            Perhaps the poets know something we don’t. Or, at least they express it with more clarity. Winter takes its toll on the landscape and on people. Days are shorter and so are tempers. The long nights, gray skies, and isolation forced by inclement weather in some places or just chilly rain in other can make travel and movement difficult for seniors. Add to that, the natural “let down” that comes after the busy winter holidays, whether one was fully engaged with family and friends during the holidays or experienced loneliness, and the hump of winter in January and February can be a tough time for everyone. How can activity directors improve the quality of participants’ experiences during an especially dismal and difficult time of the year?

         While planning events and projects for the gray, cold months of January and February, activity directors might want to consider the compelling research concerning one’s attitude and one’s response to the weather-related environment that can shape participants’ interest in activities, willingness to engage freely, and activity level.

Winter Gloom in the Activity Room: Why are you so S.A.D.?

           Let’s first examine the impact of winter weather and climate on one’s health and attitude, and corresponding ways to combat the depressive nature of winter in the activity center. The clinical term is S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder, a social and emotional disorder that occurs when changes in the amount of sunlight that one receives triggers symptoms such as *anxiety, *depression, *hopelessness, *food craving, *loss of energy, and *loss of interest in activities. Here’s what one expert says about S.A.D.:

Throughout the centuries, poets have described a sense of sadness, loss and lethargy which can accompany the shortening days of fall and winter. Many cultures and religions have winter festivals associated with candles or fire. Many of us notice tiredness, a bit of weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed and bouts of "the blues" as fall turns to winter. However some people experience an exaggerated form of these symptoms. Their depression and lack of energy become debilitating. Work and relationships suffer. This condition, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may affect over 10 million Americans while the milder, "Winter Blues" may affect a larger number of individuals. Carol E. Watkins, MD. https://www.ncpamd.com/seasonal.htm#What%20is%20SAD?

           S.A.D. is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a depressive disorder and the incidence of it increases as one moves upward in latitude. Therefore, activity directors working in colder climates might well see more of the disorder, which is predominately associated with women ( 70-80%) . Since the majority of our senior participants are female, this increases the likelihood that one may need to adjust programs to help lift S.A.D. spirits during the winter. What can one do in the activity circle?

• Symptoms improve with exposure to sunlight, even in the winter. Organize a 30 minute “Winter Wonderland Walk”, encouraging participants to bundle up in their most colorful togs. Take pictures and post them on a bulletin board or web page. Serve hot chocolate or cider.
• Consider purchasing a “light box” for the activity room. Exposure to this artificial light can be prescriptive, but be sure to check with medical personnel first.
• Plan activities involving bright colors. Paint flower pots and force daffodil bulbs in the colorful pots.
• Bring in extra lamps and put brighter wattage bulbs for a punch up of light.
• Play light classical music in the background to ease anxiety and boost mood.
• Place a bowl of fresh oranges or lemons or both in a visually prominent place. Research shows that these colors and scents work to lift spirits.
• Finger-paint with bright citrus colors and even “scent” the paint with lemon oil for a sensual kick.
• Create a Power Point slide show of exotic, sunny places and take a virtual vacation with clients. You can even make passports and wear sunglasses for the journey! Here is a web site of good slides to start with: https://www.screensaversdepot.com/

Attitude of Gratitude

           It isn’t just sunlight that affects one’s emotional outlook in winter months. An exciting body of research in the area of positive psychology suggests that the sense of gratitude is profoundly important in maintaining both physical and emotional health. It had been specifically identified as a critical component for health. Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, say their initial scientific study indicates that gratitude plays a significant role in a person's sense of well-being.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved. McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

https://www.acfnewsource.org/religion/gratitude_theory.html

Additional research suggests that heart patients who are positive and express gratitude and have spiritual support groups fare better than those with pessimistic mind-sets. How can one harness the power of “gratitude theory” as it is termed, to pair with research on S.A.D. and create a more nurturing environment for winter activity times?

Generating Gratitude

• Encourage participants to be thankful for their own unique spirits and viewpoints. One can do this by framing the artwork of participants and displaying it or publishing a newsletter containing short stories or poems.
• Use humor to point out situations in everyday life that one can be thankful for.
• Create a colorful mosaic of “thankful moments”. Do this by tracing large letters for the word “GRATEFUL” on colored tag-board and then having participants cut out magazine pictures of things that they are grateful for and gluing them onto the letters to form a mosaic.
• During February, cut out cheery hearts and write a daily message to your participants on each one. Post a new one each day and share it. Some examples: “I am grateful for Mrs. Washington’s sweet smile.”
• Focus on what is ahead to be grateful for instead of what is behind us that we might be sorry for. Create sentence strips with prompts that participants can finish. Today I am thankful for my ________________.
• Pull together a gratitude “grab bag” of goodies for participants to choose from after leaving your activity time. Tie each one with a tag thanking the person for being a part of the activity that day. Foil wrapped sugar free chocolate pieces, rolls of lifesavers?, or even warm winter socks or mittens are good choices.
• Get involved with the “Random Acts of Kindness Foundation”. https://www.actsofkindness.org/community/ offers a wonderful list of community-based activities that your group might find attractive. Plan to celebrate “Kindness Week”, held this year 2006: February 13-19.
• Why not crown a “Queen of Kindness” in your activity center, celebrating an individual whose behaviors reflect an attitude of kindness and gratitude?
• Read aloud every day from an inspirational magazine such as Guideposts or even Reader’s Digest. Select short, inspirational pieces that inspire gratitude.

Focus on the good things that winter can bring!

The winter months can seem long and difficult, especially for those who are limited in their movement or who feel left-over loneliness from the holiday season. However, you can shift the focus from negative to positive with your own attitude, classroom environments, use of color and scent, and upbeat activities. Make an extra effort to bring light, fun, and an attitude of gratitude into your activity center and perhaps you can create a feeling more like those expressed in these happy winter verses:

January

January opens

The box of the year

And brings out days

That are bright and clear.

And brings out days

That are cold and gray,

And shouts, "Come see

What I brought today!"

Leland B. Jacobs

February Twilight

I stood beside a hill

Smooth with new-laid snow,

A single star looked out

From the cold evening glow.

There was no other creature

That saw what I could see--

I stood and watched the evening star

As long as it watched me.

Sara Teasdale