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Eighteen Days of Gratitude

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Painter
  • Wing Chaplain
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --  We are all familiar with the 15-week long Critical Days of Summer Safety Program. I would like to encourage the members of the 315th Airlift Wing to consider a shorter, similar commitment during November which I will call "The 18 days of Thanksgiving."

I am writing this article on the Sunday of A Flight, so there are 18 days remaining between today and Thanksgiving Day. Having read a few articles recently on how expressing gratitude enhances an individual's happiness, I thought it might be meaningful to challenge each member of our Wing to commit to keeping track of the number of times that they express genuine gratitude to another person over the next 18 days. I do not expect a report or score from you, but I hope you will keep track yourself and reflect upon the impact expressing gratitude has upon your life. I hope you will be genuine, be specific, and be generous with your expressions.

Ask yourself throughout the day, "What is in my life right now that I am thankful for?" If it is a person, tell the person that you are thankful for them; if it is assistance or a favor given by someone, thank that person.

I hope this will be the beginning of a discipline that will last long after Thanksgiving Day, but for now, the challenge has been made: Try to express genuine gratitude at least three times a day over the next 18 days, and, if you'd like, let me know what you learn from the challenge.