Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/216837
vow to make less room for bickering and more for saying thanks. Science supports our marital gratitude attempts. One researcher showed that a marriage has a greater chance of survival if for every one complaint. By just stating the goal, my husband and I instantly start keeping each other accountable, and when complaints creep in, we mutually agree to re-shift toward gratitude. We're off to a good start. DAY #8: MAKE A FAMILY POSTER GET YOUR GRATITUDE ON! DreamBank's interactive display on gratitude is up through December. It also offers crafting events like the Pinterest Party where I made my gratitude board (above), and various topical workshops including "The Transformative Power of Gratitude: The Silver Lining Phenomenon," an engaging seminar by Darcy Luoma that will to inspire you to slow down and count your blessings during the busy holiday season; Dec. 4, 12 p.m. amfam.com/dreambank. DAY #5: SAY YOUR VERSION OF GRACE If you don't say grace, this tradition could easily be overlooked. But it's a snap to implement, kids love it, and the dinner a family. DAY #6: BRUSH YOUR TEETH! AND SAY THANKS Another way to incorporate gratitude into your family's life is having your kid to say what they're thankful for before bed. My daughter eats this up, eager to tell me how much she's thankful for her her family. It tugs my heartstrings every time, and ends the usual wrangle to bed on a positive note. DAY #7: STRENGTHEN A BOND We all face challenging relationships— the kind that chew up precious emotional energy. But no matter whom it's with, gratitude can come to the rescue. Just like a paradigm shift, simply thinking about what you appreciate in a coworker— rather than what drives you batty—might ease your tension toward them. To put this into regular practice at home, I ask my husband to make a sort of gratitude pact with me. Unsurprisingly, after years together, we have ongoing, redundant complaints. But after a simple conversation, we acknowledge that we could appreciate each other more, and 50 BRAVA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2013 poster in your home and make it a gratitude board—anyone can contribute. In my case, I opt for a lazy day of helping my daughter make her own poster like mine. It's not only uplifting to see her explore the different people and aspects of life that make her heart sing, after we prop it up in the kitchen, it creates a physical reminder for all of us to appreciate of what's in our lives. DAY #9: APPRECIATE MY STUFF Hello, my name is Meagan and I'm addicted to stripy tunics. And dresses. And fancy tights. But as much as I love my precious threads, I also feel buried under the constant urge to get more. is a sentiment at the heart of "Give With West Africa," a travel memoir by Madisonian Katie Krueger. Written about the year she spent living in Senegal as a Rotary International scholar, her book examines Senegalese culture and happiness. "Materially, Senegal is different than here," explains Krueger, who's now a communications and marketing professional with the UW-Madison division of information technology. "It doesn't matter how much you have—the electricity goes out, the water cuts off. People have less than we do, yet they're so much happier." Why? "Being really grateful," Krueger says. "You hear it a lot, you see it in their actions, you see it in how they live their lives." My takeaway is an age-old lesson that make life feel fuller. With my consumer habit as an ample target, I decide that every time the urge to