Gratitude. Express it. Recently you’ve probably read that instead of saying “thank you” it is more meaningful to say “I appreciate you”.

As Einstein said, “A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer lives depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving.” Some have paraphrased this to say, “Einstein said ‘thank you’ a hundred time per day”. Is there a message here and what can we gain from this exercise?

A leading researcher of gratitude, Professor of Psychology and editor in Chief of Positive Psychology Robert Emmons, PhD (UC Davis) defines gratitude as a “felt sense of wonder, thankfulness and appreciation of life”. Basically, gratitude makes us happier and healthier. “Doc, what do I have to be grateful for? I have cancer.” Look at it this way: that change in your life makes it easy to express 100 statements of gratitude. Not just thanking people who support you, give you the therapy, drive you to treatments, make a meal, but even your body: your legs work, your eyes see, your thoughts guide, you have a wheelchair to get around, your vision may be poor but you can hear kind words, your thoughts may be confused but you know your loved one.

I recall an early awareness of this practice of gratitude. In first grade Sister Joseph Raphael lined us up in the hallway for the restroom (there were 98 in my class and no teacher’s aid) She would say, “Thank God for your kidneys”. I had no idea what that meant but there was “kid” in the word so I thought she meant the other kids in line (I was five) .

You express gratitude all the time but becoming more aware and deliberate in the process has benefits. Remember to be grateful for yourself too. Over your lifetime there are so many ways your body has healed or improved. Look in the mirror. Really look at yourself, not the flaws but the strength. Be grateful for your determination; you are fierce and you have the will to live. What you will find is that 100 times isn’t enough! Ultimately you begin to wash your brain of the negative and smile at the positive life affirming messages you can gift yourself every day.

Sister Joseph Raphael may have been overworked and not paid, she may have been praising God not quoting Einstein, but she knew what she was talking about. So now let me say, I am grateful for you.