Gratitude: Rhymes with Attitude

How appropriate that “attitude” and “gratitude” rhyme. Science is learning more about how our attitude affects our brains and the cells throughout our bodies. Our attitude can actually affect our health.

Here’s what Mitchell B. Liester, M.D., recently said in Psychology Today: Evidence demonstrates that memories can be encoded and stored in cells and that these memories can influence human behavior and cognition. This perspective aligns with what trauma therapists have long observed: the body keeps the score. Traumatic experiences leave imprints not just in the brain but throughout the physical body. When we practice gratitude, we’re not just changing our thoughts—we may be literally reprogramming our cells. *

One of the blessings we humans enjoy is we can choose to be agreeable or angry. Better or bitter. Contented or cranky. Can you add to that alphabet of opposites? (Someone helpfully said happy or sappy.)

Last year as I wrote Little Sister, A Family Memoir, I tried to find empathy and hope in stories that were sometimes tragic. It made a difference to write with that attitude—the work became a joyful experience rather than just a gloomy trip through the past. I hope the book leaves my nieces and nephews with stories they’re eager to share with coming generations.

We can choose whether to dwell on sad or bad things from the past, going over them in our minds, telling everyone who will listen, and refusing to let them go.

Or we can turn those memories over to God and let him begin to heal them. Then we can replace sad or bad memories with an attitude of gratitude and that helps our brains and bodies cope. If we start our mornings with thanksgiving in our hearts, it sets us on a positive path for the whole day. And as the minutes and hours tick by, those good memories are becoming embedded in our cells!

Recently in a Sunday sermon, Pastor Chad said: “Gratitude is a memory in motion.” To me that means making a point of remembering our blessings, praising God for them, and letting him deal with the rest.

One of the best ways to strengthen our good memories is to share them. As Thanksgiving draws near, what better time to tell them to family and friends?

But, most of all, we need to recall the answers to prayer that we’ve had and show our gratitude to the Lord. We can encourage others and ourselves by sharing them.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3

* How Gratitude Heals From Within, Mitchell B. Liester, M.D., Psychology Today, 4/11/2025.

Writing Update

Dear readers, this blog post is a milestone—the 100^th Prairie Lighthouse post! The first one went out in May of 2015. Thank you for a decade of support and encouragement!

This picture is of Larry and me at the Wilton Fall Frenzy on Nov. 1. It was a fun day and the last book signing planned for the year. If you know of an event for 2026, let me know.

You can order my books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores, and at most booksellers in Bismarck. People tell me they make great Christmas gifts. (Hint, hint.)

Happy Thanksgiving!