Nose for News, By Sarah Stultz

It’s hard to believe another year has almost passed, and we’re entering the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This has always been one of my favorite times of year because you often see people speak a little nicer and be a little kinder to those around them — both strangers, friends and family.

With this week being Thanksgiving week, in particular, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for and ways we can show that we are thankful.

Even if we don’t have a perfect life — which none of us do — we still have many things to be grateful for that we often take for granted.

Whether it’s the roof over our heads, the food on the table, a neighbor who watches out for you or a person who serves you at a restaurant or store, the list goes on and on.

How can we show that we are thankful?

To me, it all boils down to giving back.

Here’s a list I’ve brainstormed that I am going to try to implement over the next few weeks of ways I can show my gratitude.

• Voice your gratitude. A simple thank-you goes a long way.

• Send an email or a card to let someone know how his or her kindness impacted you.

• Give a waiter or waitress a larger tip than normal.

• Make a blessing jar. For every blessing you recognize in your life, write it out on a strip of paper and place it in a jar. At the end of the year, open the jar and read all of the blessings. It’s a good reminder of many of the positive things throughout the year.

• Brighten someone’s day with flowers or cookies.

• Open a door for someone.

• Volunteer with an organization serving people in need.

• Make a friend their favorite meal.

• Give an anonymous donation to a good cause.

• If you’re a hugging person, give a hug.

• Keep a gratitude journal.

• Give a shoutout on social media when someone has done something you appreciate.

• Offer to babysit for a friend with young children, so he or she can enjoy a relaxing evening.

• Pay for someone’s meal behind you in line.

• Smile.

• Don’t complain for 24 hours.

• Leave a positive sticky note somewhere random. The people who find it will smile when they see it.

This list could go on and on, but it’s a start.

Until next time, thank you to all of our readers and the many kind-hearted people in the community. I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.