Ever since we were young, we were taught to be grateful; but often, we get busy in our hectic lives and forget to express gratitude. Have you ever wished to give everyone a heartfelt thank you all at once? Well then, World Gratitude Day will be the ideal holiday for you! Every year on September 21st, we express our compassion and gratitude towards people all around us.

Unbelievably, the history of World Gratitude Day can extend back to 1965. Sri Chinmoy, an encouraging and insightful teacher, proposed the idea of a holiday of gratitude at a Thanksgiving dinner in the UN's meditation room. The idea was popular, and the other attendees in the room who had agreed to organise events in their countries, spent the rest of their time discussing the new holiday. The holiday was first observed on September 21, 1966, and has been observed annually since then by nations all over the world.

One of the easiest ways to observe World Gratitude Day is to write thank-you notes, cards, letters or emails to loved ones. It doesn't even need to be extremely well-written–all it needs is your genuine love and appreciation. Also remember to appreciate and embrace your true self on this day! Although no one is flawless, each of us has incredible qualities about us that we should be proud of.

World Gratitude Day is also a great opportunity for us to have more positive spirits than usual, for the feeling of gratefulness often helps us overcome more pessimistic emotions like envy or grumpiness. It's a perfect opportunity for introspection as well, and it helps us understand the meaning of being grateful.

Now, that's all I have to say about this wonderful, wonderful holiday. Don't forget to go out and acknowledge others' good deeds on this day, whether it be your teacher, your friends, or your parents. Oh, and don't forget to say two simple yet profound words: "thank you."

Enjoy your holiday!

Written by Lily.
Edited by Marlee Potter.
Proofread by Daphne Clarke.