Gratitude linked with happiness; What are you thankful for?

With Thanksgiving a week away, research indicates gratitude is one of the strongest contributors to happiness and meaning in life.

Gratitude improves emotional and physical health as well as strengthens relationships and communities, according to Dr. Robert Emmons, a University of California, Davis professor and author of “Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier.”

Some strategies include keeping a gratitude journal, learning prayers of gratitude, and using visual reminders.

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is tough. It is, according to Emmons, a "chosen attitude." We must be willing to recognize and acknowledge that we are the recipients of an unearned benefit.

Emmons’s research indicates that gratitude is not merely a positive emotion; it also improves your health if cultivated.

So tell us what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving. Selected comments will be published in the Daily Press during Thanksgiving week.