One of my favorites quotes ever has to be this one:
"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality." - Alfred Painter
Living by this has definitely made life a lot easier, happier, and optimistic. The science backing the benefits of gratitude are undeniable. From boosting happiness to increasing the achievement of goals, gratitude is a simple yet incredibly powerful thing that all of us have to do.
So the next time you say thank you to a person holding the door for you or to a waitress, just remember that you're doing a service for yourself too.
Here are 3 great articles on why you need to start expressing gratitude (if you aren't making a conscious decision to do so already).
PS: A really fun way to make gratitude a daily habit is through GratitudeLog.com.
I use it everyday and on days I feel down I can feel an instant boost of happiness almost immediately.
Becoming Just Awesome Part 3 - Problem vs. Gratitude
Michelle Rogers
Okay, this article has more than just 3 reasons why being grateful rocks. More the merrier. It also gives a journaling exercise that I really recommend. I do something similar to this where I record gratitude before I go to bed and when I wake up.
Do You Do the Gratitude Dance?
Marjam Vaher
A hilarious video of two guys known as the GratiDudes who do a dance of gratefulness. It shows just how much fun you can have from expressing gratitude.
The Fine Art of Gratitude
Gary Ryan Blair
Awesome article on the benefits of gratitude. They're the 3 Ps: Positioning, perspective, and power. Discover how gratitude affects all three and how you can make your life better starting with being grateful.
I'd like to add a simple truth that produces profound results.
The surest way to manifest more, is to first deeply appreciate what you do have.
If I can just share one personal success tip with all of you it is this. My life took a HUGE turn for the better, the moment I made expressing gratitude and appreciation part of my daily routine. I now start every single day with gratitude at http://www.GratitudeLog.com and my life has never been the same!
The best part of it... it makes you feel better and increases your happiness too and it just takes one minute per day. Now who would say no to this?
Every morning when I get up I do this ritual of gratitude to God/the Universe. I give thanks for everything I have, in every area of my life, even if don't have it yet. I just feel like I have it. This makes my day!
When somebody is doing something nice to me (like when they let me move from one lane to the other, or anything else) I thank them and we both smile.
It's been said that you can't see God, but you see him in the people that you meet. So, when you thank a person whole-heartedly you not only thank them but you also thank God, because this person is a manifestation of God.
Is gratitude the same as appreciation? Because, I have an appreciation habit for small things in my life like little things in my environment or funny little things someone says that make me chuckle. Those things are for me the best!
One great way to show gratitude is through Send Out Cards. When someone recieves a card through post office mail from you, it makes them feel appreciated! http://www.sendoutcards.com/66572
To find out how easy that can be done!
I love the quote at the beginning of this article. It reminded me of the old saying "manners make the man" good manners are the basis of being mindful.
Ask yourself: What do I have that makes me happy and the answer will solve the problem of how to be happy forever'
hahahahahah
)) - the Gratitude Dance is awesome 
! Thank you for that 
! I used to have a gratitude journal, but it is so so boring writing in it and I love dancing, so... I think dancing is a much better idea 
! Oh and I love gratitudelog.com - truly awesome idea!
Thanks for making my smile
!!!