Gratitude, the root that nourishes us all. Gratitude has no side effects. It costs nothing. We are never too young, too old, too busy, or too sick to begin.

There is a wonderful quote often attributed to musician Willie Nelson that goes, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” Gratitude is about seeing what is already here, what we have. The present moment is the one thing that is certain.

At its heart, gratitude is about human connection. When we lead with a grateful heart, the way we see life changes. Experiences feel fuller. “Maybe we start to notice the gifts around us: local farmers and organic grocery stores that nourish the community, workout classes that help fill our cups, the barista who knows your order by heart, or opportunities to brighten a stranger’s day with a compliment.” Gratitude feeds our mind the same way good food feeds our body. It gives us something nourishing to grow from.

We become what we feed our mind. Our words and thoughts are not only passing moments. Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto spent years photographing water crystals exposed to kind and harsh words, and he saw that loving words created more beautiful structures. The human body is mostly water. Imagine what our words can do and change within us.

In studies led by psychologist Robert Emmons of UC Davis, people who kept a simple gratitude journal tended to feel more joyful and exercised more. In one small study of heart patients at UC San Diego, those who practiced gratitude journaling showed lower markers of inflammation, and related research found grateful patients felt more confident taking ownership of their health.

There is no single right way to practice gratitude. For one person, it may be a journal, for another, a prayer before meals, a walk without a phone, a handmade thank you card to a friend, a photo saved from a favorite day, or daily lifestyle choices that support well-being. In return, the body gives thanks too.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside even found that practicing gratitude led people toward healthier food choices. A grateful heart reaches for what nourishes, and nourishing food can support an optimistic outlook.

Then let gratitude move outward. We never know what someone else is going through. One compliment can shift their entire day!

Life may not be perfect, or exactly how we imagined something to go. There will be hard days, and moments that test us. But gratitude can change the way we see it. The more grateful you are, the more beauty you can see.

Food & Thought and Food & Thought 2, The Organic Market, Juice Bar, and Eatery, provide diverse menu options to support many dietary lifestyles for the Southwest Florida community and visitors in a welcoming gathering space.