On the eve of Thanksgiving Day I am considering what it means to be thankful, particularly about what it means to be thankful for our work and to express gratitude in the midst of our work as we serve others. I found an interesting article by Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo in "Huffpost Healthy Living" (online) entitled, "7 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude".* One of the seven points Dr. Lombardo makes about gratitude is that it is very important to "be present" when we are with others. She points out that many of us are very good at juggling multiple thoughts in our heads at the same time. However, she also states that "It is tough to feel true gratitude when your attention is divided. Take the time to really focus on the person you are with or event that is happening in the moment."
I know that at times, it can be easy for me to think of the resident who is in my office, seeking assistance, as just one more person in my day and to concentrate on trying to resolve their issues, rather than really paying attention to them. But Dr. Lombardo's reminder to "be present" teaches me that this is not a good way to show gratitude to, or for, the person I am trying to help. If I become too focused on the problems I am trying to resolve or the other tasks I need to get done before the day is over, I forget the person who is in front of me, with his or her own unique personality and ways of expressing gratitude to me for any assistance I might offer.
As we approach the month of December and another very busy holiday season, maybe we can make a conscious effort not to become so absorbed in our schedules and in getting things done that we forget to really be present to the people we serve. Being present helps us to be more in tune with the needs of others, and helps to increase our gratitude for them as well.
* Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, “7 Ways to Boost Your Gratitude”,
from “Huffpost Healthy Living” online,
posted 11/28/2013 and updated 1/28/2014.
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