Interdisciplinary Psychology:

Gratitude Letter Activity

I wrote my gratitude letter to my new very close friend Saralynn.  This assignment came at a perfect time because it forced me to reflect on who I have been grateful for in my life and in doing it, it spontaneously clicked all at once that her presence has been an indespensible teaching.  For me, she is one of those rare BRIGHT individuals whose presence naturally lights the room, without any traces of contrived effort.  It’s all pretty much here in the letter which I will share for you now:

Introduction to Positive Psychology by William Compton, was a comprehensive, user friendly textbook that maps in out in detail the major landmarks of Positive Psychology, which center around the three elements of: Positive connections to others, positive individual traits and life regulation qualities (7).  In writing this book it was very apparent that Compton was not trying to present himself as a personal authority who knew the answers.  In the beginning of the book he qualifies the research presented by saying,

Going Up

I.            As is true with many people, lifting my mood is synonymous with exercise.  The endorphins high and the sense of well-being that I get from taking care of my body through running, biking, weights, basketball, rock-climbing and swimming are essential for my sanity—especially during winter in the Northwest. 

Lately, my core practice has been jogging in the morning.  I often wake up in a fog, and don’t want to even think about doing anything, so therefore I have learned to completely disregard what my mind tells me as I come to grips with daylight.  Instead I go into this autopilot mode where, I pop out of bed throw on my maroon shorts, grab my headphones and dash outside into the brisk near freezing air the other part of me has time to protest.