During the week of Thanksgiving, and increasingly throughout the entire month of November, many post on social media, or send notes or letters, expressing gratitude. At the Thanksgiving table many families treasure the tradition of allowing everyone a moment to speak about what they are thankful for. It’s a wonderful time of year to pause, to reflect and give appreciation for one’s many blessings.
Gratitude doesn’t have to be reserved for holiday rhetoric; an attitude of gratitude can be an important part of everyday living. The regular routine of appreciation and expressing gratitude daily is a healthy practice for everyone, but offers even more value and healing for children living with inter-generational trauma in the home. These children, vulnerable to irresolvable stress because of the day-to-day inconsistency brought about by parental addiction, often live in fear and anticipate the worst. NACoA co-founder and internationally renowned author and trainer Claudia Black, PhD explains why gratitude may not come easily for these kids: “Sometimes, it may feel simply impossible to see the positive in a given situation or to have gratitude for your position in life. We may feel like the world is intent on sending us obstacles and gratitude may seem out of reach. What’s ironic is that gratitude is just what we may need to conjure up solutions to life’s challenges.”
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