As We Approach The Holiday Season, What Are You Thankful For?

ACROSS AMERICA — Saying what you?re thankful for — whether for a person or thing, an organization or institution, or an event that brings people together — is a big part of Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings across the country.

We partnered with T-Mobile to bring some of those ?I?m thankful for? moments from the dinner table to Patch. And by the way, counting blessings and showing appreciation are good for you, both physiologically and psychologically, according to research.

Studies have shown feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity, as well as decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risks of diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic.

?If a pill could do this, everyone would be taking it,? Mayo said in a blog post. ?Your brain is designed to problem-solve rather than appreciate. You often must override this design to reap the benefits of gratitude.?

Reams of research support that, including a study in which participants in three experiments were challenged to express gratitude more often in their everyday lives. The experiments showed that people who wrote letters of thankfulness and those who received them experienced positive benefits.

As we approach the holiday season, what are you most thankful for? Is it a person, a thing, an organization, or something less tangible? Click here to fill out the form, and we?ll take care of the rest. Your answer could appear on Patch!