How Do We Express Gratitude in Times of Crisis?

At this time, when we are struggling with the changes in our routines and our lives, I wanted to write about expressing our gratitude.  How do we express gratitude in times of crisis?  I think that during the best of times, it requires a little effort to express thankfulness, but during more difficult times, it requires extra effort.  

As I sit down to write this blog post, I am truly amazed at how drastically my life, all our lives, have changed in the last two weeks.   What goes without saying is that some days are easier and others are more stressful.  I find that looking for things to be grateful for helps me through these stressful times. 

So here are 5 things that I am truly grateful for:  

Truck drivers, mail carriers and food delivery people, grocery store workers, my family, my health, and Medical workers.

But how do I (we) truly express gratitude for these people?   Saying Thank you doesn’t seem quite enough, so I googled “how do you express gratitude?”  and came across this wonderful article that listed 10 ways to express gratitude.  Here is the link if you would like to read some of the articles.  

 https://psychcentral.com/blog/10-ways-to-express-gratitude/

Some of them, we can’t do right now, like go visit someone, but there are still lots of ways for us to express our gratitude.  

While out for some exercise the other day I noticed a unique way to show some strangers gratitude.   

What a wonderful way to express gratitude

See picture on the right! 

 On a different walk, I saw a family walking together, a mother and her two children.  They were showing gratitude by trying to get truck drivers to honk their horns as they drove by.  I am sure that this brought as much joy to the truck drivers, as it did to the family and to me.  Small moments can have lasting effects.

So let’s Reach out to all those around us and add to our gratitude Chain!    

1. Write a letter of gratitude or make a thank you card and mail it to someone, anyone that you are thankful for. 

2.  Leave a note for your mail carrier.

3.  Check in on a neighbor, a friend, or family member

4.  Call someone to say hello

5.  Say what you are grateful for in the comments below         

6.  Ask if you can help someone

7.  Offer to help with chores

There are two more things that I am thankful for, all the families and students in the Watkins Glen Reach program and the fact that this situation won’t last forever.  We’re all in this together. 

Keeping Kids Engaged

Hello Families,

I just wanted to help you with keeping your kids engaged at home.  Please click on the following link to the 4-H Today Blog - 5 ways to keep kids engaged for fun ideas on activities that you can do together as a family!  Number two on the list contains a lot of great projects, experiments, and games that you can do with your family.  Click on the link to download the free "4-H Healthy Living Activity Guide".  Just to give you an idea of what great activities are included you can make a first aid kit, participate in family yoga or make a watermelon pizza!  Don't forget to check out the other ways to engage your kids listed on the this page.  Please leave a comment below to let me know if found this to be helpful.

Ms Kim

Welcome Watkins Glen Reach Program

Hello Watkins Glen Reach Program,

I hope this find all of you happy, healthy, and well.

Below you find a great virtual field trip that all of you can go on.  Son Doong Cave is the largest cave in the world.  What can you tell me about the cave?  What animals might live here?  Where is it located?  Who discovered it?  Can you tell me something else about it?

Be sure you explore the whole thing!  You can zoom in real close and trust me it is worth it.  Don't forget to look up, down, and all around.  If you tour the cave with your sound on, you hear some interesting things as well.

  Virtual Field Trip to Son Doong Cave in Vietnam

I will be checking in with you to see what you have learned and/or you can post below with your findings.  We'll talk more later.