“Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given;
gratitude arises from paying attention.”

 – David Whyte

A 2024 analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry, drawing on data from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study, found that participants with higher levels of gratitude had a significantly lower risk of mortality over a four-year period (reported by Harvard Health). In addition, meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials show that gratitude practices—such as gratitude letters and journaling—are associated with increased positive emotion and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

A free gathering—offered online via Zoom for anyone who would like to join created to provide intention, structure, and accountability for writing one or more letters to those who have had a meaningful, positive impact on your life.

This is an invitation to excavate and cultivate gratitude—to slow down, name what has shaped you, and allow appreciation to be felt not just as an idea, but as a lived experience.

A letter may be addressed to people who are living or those who have died. You may choose to mail your letter, keep it private, or—if it feels right—read it aloud to the person it’s written for. Each option carries its own transformative power.

Beginning with a brief reflection to help settle the mind and clarify intention. The majority of our time will be devoted to writing in a shared, supportive container. We’ll close the writing portion at around 4pm and leave room for an optional opportunity to share a passage of what you’ve written—no pressure.

No writing experience is necessary. Come exactly as you are, with curiosity, an open heart, and a willingness to listen to what wants to be expressed.  Please join me in this uplifting activity.