Gratitude is arguably as quintessential to Thanksgiving as turkey, cranberry sauce and the kumbaya story of Pilgrims and Native Americans coming together. The word “thanks” is, after all, right there in the holiday’s name. Yet if the idea of counting your blessings or writing a heartfelt letter to a loved one fills you with dread, you’re not alone.
“It feels cringe,” says Sarah Schnitker, a personality psychologist at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
But, alas, all those annoying holiday articles extolling gratitude’s benefits aren’t wrong. Giving thanks has been linked with numerous well-being benefits, including stronger relationships, resilience and even improved blood pressure. “You name it, and there is