By Mabel Ortiz, MM, MT-BC, Music Therapist
For many, the month of November is the start of a season of holidays and festivities. November is also known to be the month when we gather and celebrate with grateful hearts. But having an attitude of gratitude should not only be reserved for a season; it should also be cherished throughout the year, every single day. In fact, there’s research to prove of the many benefits of being grateful and how it affects our life. Research says that practicing gratitude is linked with positive feelings, greater happiness, better physical health, and improved quality of life (McCullough, Emmons, & Tsang, 2002). From my own point of view as a music therapist, I have had the privilege of being a witness of the impact of how practicing mindfulness about the things that we are thankful for can impact our well-being.
We can all agree that this has been a hard year for all of us. As music therapists, we’ve been able to explore these experiences and feelings through music, self-reflection, and practicing gratitude. VNA clients and music therapists have come together to collaborate and share some words of gratitude with you. Our hope is to inspire you to focus on the things that matter most, and that together we look into the future with an attitude of gratitude and hope.
