Thanksgiving has always been my favorite American holiday. And it’s not just the delicious food, cozy, warm harvest colors, family and friends and a four-day weekend. Thanksgiving is about gratitude, one of the most powerful antidotes to grief, sadness, and loneliness. According to Harvard Medical School, “gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Indeed, research in Positive Psychology shows that an attitude of gratitude can increase optimism and improve productivity.

So here are 3 easy ways that you can call in gratitude this Thanksgiving, and feel good now:

1. Write a gratitude letter

   Write a letter to someone who has done something nice for you this year who you have not yet properly thanked expressing gratitude. Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, whose class I took as an undergraduate, gave 411 subjects an assignment to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her kindness. The participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness scores, an impact greater than that from any other intervention, with benefits lasting for a month.

   For an extra fun bonus, send the letter to this person by snail mail, because who doesn’t love to receive a surprise card in the mail? This act of kindness will warm your heart and bring the spirit of Thanksgiving into your life and theirs.

2. Make a list of 100 things you are grateful for

   This is not as easy as it sounds. But dig deep and get creative! You can be grateful for such small things, such as waking up in the morning, taking a breath of fresh air, having a roof over your head, or having clean water to drink. There, I just gave most of you 4 freebies! Look at your list and allow yourself to really take in each item.

3. Manifest a wish through gratitude

   Draw a picture of something that you wish for yourself in the coming year. Your drawing can be literal or totally abstract. Make it fun. Use crayons, colored pencils or even watercolors! Underneath your drawing, write down, “I am grateful for [insert your wish or desire].” By declaring your gratitude for something in the future, you will be calling this into your life. And who knows, you might realize that you already have what you are longing for. 

Wherever you are this Thanksgiving, raise a glass in gratitude for something or someone. May you be safe, may you be healthy, may you be joyful, and may you live with ease.