Gratitude plays a crucial role in recovery by fostering resilience, improving one’s mood, and strengthening social connections. Focusing on the positive gifts of life and expressing appreciation to others reduces stress, enhances a sense of well-being, and adds to a greater level of happiness. Frequently demonstrating gratitude for what one has and to others can become a habit which eventually rewires the brain.
In an “Expressive Art Project” during a Friday morning Amethyst community meeting, women in the recovery program focused on gratitude. After discussing the topic and what each woman was grateful for and who deserves their gratitude, they created their own version of the sunflower out of paper. The sunflower was chosen for the project because of the artist, Vincent Van Gogh, who was sincerely grateful for the sunflower’s beauty, color, and composition.
After creating a personal version of the sunflower, each women wrote what they were grateful for that that on the petals of the flowers. These expressive art pieces were then hung up in the Amethyst assembly room and have become the start of a larger “Wall of Gratitude”.
We leave you with this beautiful poem, Be Grateful, by Dejine P., which captures the spirit of the project and the courage it takes to find gratitude in every part of life’s journey:
Be Grateful, By Dejine P
For the sunshine
and for rain
For joy
and for pain
Be grateful for all the things
that push feeling through your veins
For family and friends
and enemies alike
Be grateful for those you love
and even those you spite
Baby showers and funerals
the gains and losses of life
Be grateful to be a part of
each living light
Gratitude goes a long way
be still and give thanks
You’ll always be number on 1
when it comes to God’s ranks
For the things that feel good
and then those, not so much
Appreciate that you can feel it
no matter how harsh the touch
For happiness and joy
and even for sadness and grief
You can have much to be grateful for
if you choose to believe
