Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/216837
12 Days of Gratitude HOW I JOURNALED, WROTE LETTERS, MADE LISTS, DONATED AND EVEN CRIED MY WAY TOWARD A HAPPIER EXISTENCE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO judge a book by its cover, but let's be honest— sometimes it's hard to resist. Especially when you're hunting for books about gratitude. Here's what half of the covers look like: One person, standing in a "wee!-I'm-so-happy" look on their face as they gaze up with their arms outstretched to the sky. for a mood boost, gratitude is one of the best currencies you can use. One study revealed that participants with a weekly gratitude practice reported fewer health problems, exercised more 48 BRAVA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2013 and were 25 percent happier than a control group. Gratitude has also been shown to ease insomnia, increase optimism, reduce stress and depression, and even make you more productive at work. You're probably not in shock reading this. Be less negative! Be more positive! the gap between knowing and doing. I admit—I'm as guilty as the next overwhelmed working mom of not moving a gratitude practice to the top of life's to-do list. Starting a gratitude routine to manage my emotional state? Never can for presents I've received. My solution? Go on a gratitude binger. For 12 days, I'm going to put all the best habits will stick? Which ones will have the most profound impact? Which ones will grab my trendy tunic by its Peter Pan collar and shake me out of my thankless DAY #1: VISUALIZE IT ration incubator created by American Family Insurance that hosts regular seminars related to happiness, health and more. Today's workshop has a simple goal: Create a gratitude board. Chances are you've done a similar CARDY BY 622 PRESS; PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHANNA WOLF BY MEAGAN PARRISH