What Are You Grateful For?



= Gratitude: =

–noun

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful (Dictionary.com).

Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive (Wikipedia.org).

Gratitude can be experienced in a cornucopia of ways for a multitude of reasons. It is the acknowledgment and expression of such gratitude that makes the magic of this positive feeling come to life. In the bustle and insanity that can easily over take the most optimistic and devoted, one can overlook the need for appreciating the beautiful moments in life. These are the times that make us smile, encourage us to continue on the trails we are blazing, and let us know that we deserve happiness. It is coming to light through empirical research, based on Positive Psychology, that consciously acknowledging and making an effort to incorporate the practice of gratitude into one's routine can positively change one's outlook on life and improve life's circumstances, particularly when times are less than ideal.

'''Thanksgiving news, 2011! Grateful Kids Are Healthier: Studies Find Benefits in 365 Days of Thanksgiving'''

You're Just Minutes Away From Happiness

What can one be grateful for?
One can be grateful for so many moments, experiences, people, or events, it is rather ridiculous. Gratitude can arise from a special smile, an encouraging word, the sun shining, or a phone call. Gratitude can arise from an unexpected kindness, the satisfaction from overcoming a challenge, or having the opportunity to think straight in an otherwise hectic day. Gratitude can arise from a friend always being available for a needed talk, a mod full of support and laughter, or a family that defines home as having everyone together, not as a geographic coordinate. Gratitude can be sweetly simple, or it can be inexplicably complex. However, it is always nice to feel it, and nice to be recognized by it.

'''This is a page dedicated to the gratitude of the Hampshire community. Let the world know: what are you grateful for?'''

Ground rules:
If you are grateful for it, it deserves to be acknowledged. However, there are a few ground rules for keeping this page the happy place it is meant to be:

--> You need not post your name, but know that posts on Hampedia are not completely anonymous.

--> Lewd or obscene content (whether it be overly sexual, profane or violent) will be removed by moderators.

--> Post as often as you would like!

--> Please do not remove any post or information you did not create.

--> Don't post it if you would be embarrassed by your grandmother, secret crush, or your committee reading it!

= What are you grateful for? =

SPECIAL HAMPSHIRE HALLOWEEN/SNOWPOCALYPSE 2011 GRATITUDE!


 * Surviving the Halloween Snow of 2011.
 * Amazing modmates to snuggle up with and play board games and eat candy by flashlight.
 * My Mt. Holyoke homies who made my refugee stay comfortable, exciting, and warm! I <3 Mt. Holyoke!
 * The interns, house directors, and Hampshire staff that made sure I was safe, fed, and taken care of during the evacuation
 * All my loves are still intact and no one was hurt in the storm
 * Warm water and sleeping in my own bed... So. Amazing.
 * JRR Tolkein, the kindness of strangers, and late-night reading of epic literature out loud in a circle by a fire with good friends. Doing all the voices.

Fall 2010 - Fall 2011

 * Student Daily Digest
 * puppies, kitties, hampies, & little furries of all forms
 * Love
 * Skyrim. Zelda. Xbox. PS3. Video Games. Team Fortress 2. Katamari Damancy.
 * Supportive and funny modmates
 * Awesome friends to jam with
 * Not having to cook dinner
 * Warm socks and mittens
 * Cute emails from family checking in to make sure I'm okay
 * Harmonicas and acoustic guitars
 * Amy putting the time and enthusiasm into this project and creating this page!
 * My modmate taking me to the hospital, no questions asked, and holding my hand
 * My modmate who posts reminders on my door of how much she appreciates me and provides love and chocolate when most needed.
 * Free radio stations to get me through finals
 * My boyfriend who makes every place where he is home for me and reminds me what's most important in life
 * Knowing that my family will ALWAYS be there for me
 * My cute, fuzzy, awesome bunny rabbit
 * The gas stoves in Enfield mods
 * The ability to walk, talk, eat, laugh, and learn
 * Chocolate
 * Friends from home "liking" each status I post about when I will see them next
 * Having amazing friends in all sorts of random places who I love dearly
 * Fuzzy blankets
 * Life.
 * All the financial, emotional, and physical support systems in my life.
 * Jazz.
 * The capacity to love and be loved.
 * The opportunity to think freely and learn about absolutely anything every day.
 * Having friendships you know will last forever. Literally.
 * Feeling wanted/needed.
 * I am thankful that my boyfriend wasn't in his car tonight when a drunk guy smashed into it at 40 miles per hour.
 * Academic confusion
 * I'm grateful for all the awesome people in my life. Even the ones who don't know they're awesome.
 * Amazing modmates I can see myself living with for years.
 * A best friend who can read my mind, laugh at my jokes, and validate my neurotic behaviors.
 * A place where I can be a girl who likes girls.
 * Small fuzzy cute things.
 * Workmates who drive me home when it's dark and cold and lonely.
 * My friends at home who never forget about me after more than 3 months and give me a warm welcome back.
 * Holiday cheer!
 * my extremely dedicated and talented professors
 * my puppiessss and kitttiess waiting for me at home =)
 * the post office here/United States Postal Service because I send a crazy ton of mail
 * friends who let me be crazy
 * my most unconditionally loving and supportive parents
 * my fantastic co-workers!
 * all the opportunities, health, strength, insight, beauty, and support I have received from family, friends, and fate.
 * The sweet victory of finishing finals, and the sweet anticipation of being almost completely done with them all!
 * Friends that put 150% of themselves into the friendship and who support me no matter what it is that I choose to be
 * Snow and hot chocolate and candy canes
 * Being alive
 * Second chances
 * I am thankful for being able to come a long ways from home to continue my education
 * Im thankful for having the courage to love deeply
 * Thankful for the people I surround myself with and how they are always there for me no matter what
 * Life, Love, Culture
 * Knowing I have the love and support from family and friends while I am studying abroad
 * carrots
 * Spring Break!
 * Melting snow
 * Executive decisions. Made by me.
 * Runs in the Hampshire woods
 * Being outside and having sunshine after days upon days of rain
 * Baking and making really yummy food- and having awesome friends to share with
 * thinking of you cards
 * cute first years and their enthusiasm for Hampshire
 * getting 7 hours of sleep! Let's make that one a habit.
 * Best book/website EVER: "1000 Awesome Things"
 * Having a fabulous week, to be followed by a fabulous weekend with fabulous friends and fabulous events and dates.
 * Texts from my brother, skyping with my sister.
 * Having enough awesome to give away and still be super fulfilled.
 * My best friend who visits me at work. Having work.
 * being alive
 * not being on fire
 * waking up to a messy room with the memory of a wonderful night with friends
 * Hampshire College
 * The fact that I made it out alive
 * My senses
 * Knowing that I am loved
 * Easter Keg Hunt
 * The rest of my life, without expectations or pressure
 * farm veggies
 * memories of wonderful adventures and of falling in love
 * Hydra, and how it means I can watch Avatar (thelastairbender) with my partner all curled up under the blankets every evening
 * Hot, delicious tea
 * The Fair Trade movement, so I don't have to feel guilty about coffee, tea, or chocolate
 * Uncle Iroh
 * ChabadNation and my 5-college "mishpachat shabbat" (shabbos family)
 * People posting what they are grateful for!
 * Family
 * Love
 * My ability to embody love and peace whenever I allow myself
 * People who don't know me well enough to owe me anything at all but are amazing listeners, who love, facebook message, and say hi whenever I see them and genuinely want to talk to me about life/people and how I'm doing
 * Books
 * Math
 * The fact that I can see and perceive colors
 * The fact that I can hear
 * Music
 * Self-recognition
 * Insight
 * Others' continuously amazing insight
 * New friends
 * Old friends
 * Good dreams which cancel out the bad dreams
 * Hugs
 * Ducks, Puppies, Bunnies, Chipmunks
 * Smiles
 * Tea
 * Bubbles from bubble-wands (especially the ones that come on necklaces... those are SO COOL)
 * Food
 * The fact that so many incredible people I care so deeply about are healthy and happy
 * The fact that so many wonder people tolerate my craziness
 * The process of figuring out what you're trying to say through the physical act of writing
 * Cool hats
 * The feeling of finally peeing after you've had to for awhile (no, seriously though)
 * Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday
 * The ambiguity of time/existence itself, which leaves a lot of room for beautiful creation and perception to take place
 * Awesome-smelling laundry soap
 * The color green, 'cause it makes me happ
 * Challenge
 * E-mails back from two dear high school teachers sending Div III words of encouragement
 * Cold toes that make the feeling of putting fuzzy socks on AMAZING
 * My teeth that don't hurt
 * My skin that is not sick
 * My heart that beats properly
 * The fact that I don't have a headache right now and haven't for a little while now
 * The fact that my joints work properly
 * The fact that I have a home to live in, and a comfortable one at that, with plenty of blankets to keep me warm
 * The fact that I'm in college
 * The awesome discussions that happen in the class I'm TAing
 * Questions
 * The fact that I just sneezed and let out whatever germs I let out instead of them staying around and making me sick
 * That there is always another sunset and another sunrise
 * Old couples
 * Fuzzy sweatshirts
 * Animals you grew up with and their gentle passing
 * Mommy's Home Purries - every time I come home from a little wonderful ball of fur named Hunter
 * Space Heaters
 * Backpacks
 * Scholarship Applications that don't require me to recount every financial stress in my life - and the resultant grant that I feel like I truly deserved because it wasn't just a pity donation...
 * The Five College Mentored Language Program
 * Networking
 * When teachers push back due dates...
 * Wifi
 * Balloons - and feeling like the letters I attach to them get to the right people...
 * Meeting awesome and cute people while at work!
 * Checking out more than books at your local library...!
 * Sex
 * dreaming
 * the Fall 2011 Experiential Education class
 * sleeping late
 * hot chocolate on cold mornings
 * modern pharmaceuticals, which without I would be dead
 * getting enough sleep, even during finals
 * cuddling with housemates
 * the opportunity for this amazing education!!!

Spring 2012

 * The Hampshire Gratitude page has the Spotlight on the HOME PAGE! Yay!
 * Waking up to the sound of birds singing.
 * Friday night laundry (almost as good as finding change in the laundry room)
 * Beat boxing chipmunks
 * left over movie theater popcorn and peanut M&Ms
 * after my fifteen/sixteen hour mondays: a loooonnnggg hot shower and clean sheets on the bed
 * A young healthy body that can RUN, think, make love and swim.
 * A single room, a private space to rest and study
 * Friends who don't judge, and love me for my bizzarities
 * Being challenged by academics
 * Incredible guest lectures with free cookies
 * The roof over my head, food in my stomach, money in my wallet and clean water from my faucets
 * The Yellow Boat!
 * Making new friends
 * Hampshire College Early Learning Center
 * The Lovely Classes at Hampshire :)
 * the great friends who can always make me smile.
 * My brother surprising me with a visit from Maine! With flowers in hand for Valentine's day!  Best. Brother. Ever.
 * My amazing Division III students
 * Gorgeous weather and barefoot walks
 * Wind
 * Hot water (and Physical Plant for making that happen!!!)
 * New boots that don't hurt AND keep my feet dry.
 * The anticipation of a great weekend
 * BABY LAMBS!!! Grateful times a million.
 * bare foot walks around campus
 * mod field trips
 * Kisses ... the chocolate kind and the equally as sweet non-chocolate variety.
 * fabulous hugs from fabulous people
 * Spring break to switch life up a little bit
 * Being at home with my mom while she has a break
 * My mom for getting me to Hampshire and working like hell to pay for it
 * Amazing family, friends, and significant others who make the insanity of life blissfully and completely worth trudging though once you get to spend time with them.
 * Respect
 * the waves of energy friends and strangers alike emanate, showing you that everything is bound to change
 * the warmth of soil squishing up between your toes in the spring sunshine
 * my supportive family and the positivity of Nerdfighteria
 * I am grateful for my life, for my body for the force that provides my body and that which provides beauty and my eyes and heart and mind my thoughts my spirituality my "stuff" but moreso that which I can only touch or reach for, my family my friends their good health their enjoyment of life THEIR BEING and prosperity and hearts of them, the beauties of nature, the beauties of living and breath and being and mostly I am grateful for YOU! and the work of all beings who have worked a bit to make the world better for others. may all beings be freed from suffering and attain total enlightenment.
 * Learning how to let go when it's time to.
 * Those paticular AMAZING Professors at Hampshire :)

Fall 2012

 * Division III epiphanies!
 * French fries
 * the amber lights outside at night :)
 * the amazing pioneer valley :)
 * the cornfield behind the tennis courts with an amazing view of the holyoke range :)
 * The Lemelson Center for Design
 * The beauty of the sunrise on the autumnal trees after an hour of working in the dark on the farm.
 * Baristas who give you free coffee.
 * The way the sun sets and turns everything to gold after a heavy rain over the soccer fields.
 * Pizza
 * King Charles Spaniels
 * When people's cheeks turn pink after walking outside in cold weather
 * Lamps instead of fluorescent overhead lights
 * Cookies, all cookies
 * The Social Justice Living Learning Community
 * The Smile Key
 * My family

Spring 2013

 * 5 months to go and a plan
 * Connecting with a dear friend over Edo tea rolls
 * http://calmingmanatee.com/
 * my committee, for now at least
 * my best friend is back from leave
 * Liza at health services
 * renewed bridge money
 * Leisure time (to drink tea and watch greys anatomy)
 * The proximity of the farm veggies
 * Mod mates who go the extra mile
 * Someone who teaches me new cooking techniques
 * Skype!
 * Warm milk with earl grey tea
 * The freedom to run where I want to
 * A brain that can form new memories
 * Reciprocal touch
 * http://calmingmanatee.com/
 * Being out http://jenastrong.com/2013/03/02/not-on-the-menu/
 * The infinite capacity to be surprised
 * relentless potential for change
 * Rainy death
 * everyone who's helped me get here so far. and kittens c:
 * The first signs of spring flower buds :)
 * Heartbreak, and the ways in which it has helped me to grow. I am so much stronger now.
 * I am so grateful for the sun and my bones
 * The daily opportunity to teach and learn - and to learn best by teaching.

= How to incorporate more Gratitude (and the positivity that will follow!) into your life =

Here are some insanely easy tips! "Simple Ways To Show More Gratitude"

Create your own Gratitude Journal! How, you ask? By writing down what you are grateful for before you go to sleep. Keep the journal and a pen by your pillow, and take two minutes at night to contemplate what you are grateful for.

Take a moment and breathe. Then take another breath and look around. Isn't the world beautiful? What makes it beautiful?

Post what you are thankful for in your Twitter, Facebook, or other social networking status.

Write letters and notes to people who have helped you or brightened your day. Spread the love you feel! The letters can be long and detailed; then read them (preferably in person!) to the recipient. Notes can say whatever is most important: thank you for your advice and attention, thank you for always being supportive, thank you for making me laugh, I'm glad we're friends, I'm glad you exist!

Smile as often as possible.

Check out Cafe Gratitude and their mission! Answer their daily questions, designed to make you think and be present, no pens and paper needed! Sign up for the daily email here: Sign Up!

1000 Awesome Things Get inspired, and giggle a little bit (two reasons to be grateful, right there!).

How about the Daily Love? Get positive quotes, affirmations, and thoughts for the day!

Explore the Superforest, a positivity blog written by a team from around the world, "all united in a journey toward exploring how to redefine "environmentalism" and "sustainability" to encompass all aspects of life."

Take after Jessica, and her daily affirmation!

Join the cause: BeGoodToPeople.com