Gift yourself and your community by pausing to reflect on someone or something you are grateful for. Write your appreciation on a window, a bulletin board or a Post-it note and bring your department’s “Gratitude Graffiti” wall to life.
The Gratitude Graffiti Project is a practice of purposeful reflection and appreciation expressed through interactive art. Over the past decade, hundreds of studies have documented the social, physical and psychological benefits of practicing gratitude. Even in the midst of adversity, such as coping with a chronic illness or other crisis, we know that a regular practice of gratitude brings the following benefits:
- Increased happiness and life satisfaction.
- Boosting of feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, enthusiasm and other positive emotions.
- Reduced anxiety and depression.
- Strengthened immune system, lower blood pressure, reduce symptoms of illness and make us less bothered by aches and pains.
- Exercising more and taking better care of our health.
- Sleeping better. If you want to sleep more soundly, count blessings, not sheep!
- Making us more resilient, encouraging forgiveness and compassion.
- Engaging the community and fostering connections and relationship-building within the community.
How You Can Get Involved
- Each department/building is invited to house its own Gratitude Stop, a hub in the building transformed into a “graffiti” location. Kits may be viewed and ordered by visiting the Gratitude Graffiti webpage. The Employee Wellness Team will send out your kit for easy set up.
- Employees will have a “stop” to creatively engage in a moment of “gratitude” by writing or drawing what they are thankful for and may take in the “art of others” who are sharing their gratitude.
- There are three different Gratitude Graffiti Kit options for departments to choose from. Choose the kit that will work best for your area.
In preparation for our March Month of Gratitude, gratitude stops should be up by March 1. To order your kit today, simply complete the Gratitude Stop Request Form. For more information, please contact Kim Hauge, director of employee wellness, at 330-672-7505, or send an email to wellness@kent.edu.