Thanksgiving. Get a good dose of Vitamin G
November is the time-honored tradition of Thanksgiving celebrated throughout the United States. An annual thanksgiving holiday tradition in North America was first documented in 1619 in Virginia on December 4, 1619, when early settlers landed in Virginia. The original charter declared, “that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.” On October 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation establishing Thanksgiving as the last Thursday in November to boost the economy. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy issued Proclamation 3560 on November 5, 1963, stating, “Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together, and for the faith which united them with their God.”
Thanksgiving is one of our most important holidays, especially in the United States where we have so much to be thankful for. No matter how bad things may be perceived by any one person, it could almost always be worse. So be thankful it is not worse. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to travel all over the world and witness and experience different cultures, different governments, different economies and different living conditions. The United States remains the greatest nation on Earth and for this we should be grateful. Unfortunately, November is one of the most stressful months of the year and many people are affected by seasonal affective disorders leading to depression and anxiety. We turn back the clocks, the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and we have less sunlight. This leads to changes in serotonin, Vitamin D and this can disrupt our circadian rhythm and sleep patterns. However, this does not have to be the case. We control our moods and our feelings. Showing gratitude has been shown to have tremendous health benefits. The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what we receive, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, we acknowledge the goodness in our lives. When we do this, we should recognize that the source of that goodness is a gift from God. Being grateful also helps us connect to something larger than ourselves. Research has shown that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
I have personally experienced and witnessed a complete change in my perspective and how I deal with stress by showing gratitude each day. I’ve certainly experienced lots of stress and many tragic events in my life. I admit I struggled many times and for a period. However, a strong Faith and a belief that everything happens for a reason, I simply pray for strength, courage and wisdom. I commonly recite the serenity prayer, “Oh, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. We must remember that things happen for us and not to us. Becoming a victim is the first step towards a miserable life. Rather, take control. Once I made a conscious decision and resolved not to worry or stress over things I could not control, I have much less stress, much less anger and much more gratitude. I have found that my life is richer and replete with blessings. This all started with gratitude and complete surrender.
I start each day with a half hour in my infrared sauna where I pray, open my Hallow app and listen to the daily gospel and scripture. I show gratitude for everything that happens in my life and the people in my life. I reflect on the previous day, the good, the bad and the ugly. Then I plan my upcoming day, outline what I need to accomplish and then develop a plan to achieve what I need to achieve. I also try to be better than I was the day before. Sometimes, I’m successful and sometimes I fail but each day I try to be better. No matter what happens to me, I am hopeful and confident that it will work out in my favor. During a period of great despair and stress, my good friend from high school sent me a book, “The Prayer of Jabez”. It comes from a verse in the Bible. “Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked” (1 Chronicles 4:10). I pray this prayer daily and would strongly recommend anyone reading this blog, do the same.
As you gather with friends and family this month, count your blessings, acknowledge your blessings and show gratitude. Live to serve others. People remember us by how we make them feel. Think about that. Our legacy here on Earth will be based on how we make others feel. So how do you make others around you feel? This Thanksgiving, simply give thanks, show gratitude and make others feel loved and appreciated. Watch your life be transformed.
Be on the lookout for my latest book which will be out later this fall, “The Secret of Nitric Oxide; Bringing Nitric Oxide to Life”
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Dr. Nathan S. Bryan is a biochemist and physiologist that has more than 20 years of basic science and clinical research. His many seminal discoveries have resulted in dozens of issued U.S. and International patents. He is an international expert in nitric oxide and molecular medicine. Dr. Bryan is an innovator and successful entrepreneur who product technology is responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue worldwide. This content is not intended to replace medical advice from a physician.
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