Mom was right!If you say thank you,for even the smallest gift or slightest show of kindness,you'll feel happy. Gratitude ,says Robert A.Emmons,a professor of psychology at the University of California,is an important element of happiness.In his recent book,Thanks!,Emmons uses the first major study on gratitude to prove mom's point.In acknowledging and developing this muchignored expression of thankfulness,he explains how people have benefited--even improved their health. As one of the leading scholars of the positive psychology movement,he admits gratitude may be difficult to express.He advises you to begin by admitting that life is good and full of events and elements that make daily existence a wonder.Second,recognize that the source of life's goodness is more than just you.That source may be your mom,a friend,partner,child,colleague at work or play,or any combination of these. Gratitude is always otherdirected,notes Emmons.You can be pleased or angry with yourself and feel guilty about doing something wrong,but you can never be grateful to or for yourself. Expressing gratitude shouldn't be a reaction;it should be a state of mind.To feel grateful when life is a breeze and you have more than you need is easy.To feel grateful in time of crisis--anger,hatred and bitterness--is easier.Also,too many people are aware of life's blessings only after these are lost.The voices expressing gratitude from his studies of individuals are many. It's crisis and chaos--danger,disease,disability and death--that bring many individuals to realize just how dependent they are on others.Yet it's the way each of us begins life and ends it.It's too bad that so many people waste those decades in between labouring under the illusion  they are selfsufficient,says Emmons. To enable and embrace gratitude,Emmons encourages the readers of Thanks! to keep a gratitude diary.He even provides easytofollow directions on how to practise and develop gratitude. I'm not a reader or advocate of selfhelp books,but I am thankful for the reference I found in a newspaper article to the research Emmons was conducting on gratitude involving organ donors and recipients .The chance discovery led me to this book. Mom implied that kindness seems to find its way back to the giver because life really is all about giving,receiving and repaying.So I'll pay attention to her professional advice and say:Thank you,professor Emmons. What is the opinion of Professor Emmons?
It is enough to thank others orally. Whether you are thankful is always up to you. Remember to be thankful anytime and anywhere. It is easier to be thankful for yourself than for others.