Korean’s are very gracious.

Always insisting on being helpful, and always expressing their thankfulness for actions shown.

As I study Spanish, and begin to study the cultures I will encounter in South America, I realize how this is applicable as well. In the Spanish language there are many degrees of gratitude.

What about American culture?

I grew up in the South. You were reprimanded quite quickly if you did not use your please & thank yous. But this was taught by my parents as well. Always express to those that help you, compliment you, or add to you in any way that you appreciate what they have done.

Gratitude exceeds just saying thank you.

Most religions emphasis the importance of the practice of gratitude as your goal towards being the best version of yourself.

I feel like if I am negative about something, there is a quick change of perspective if I can figure out how the situation or emotion could make me grateful.  When you are happy you become grateful.  If gives you the capability to continue in the present moment.

Here are some ways it applies in various areas of life: from Positively Present

The Uses of Gratitude

• Use gratitude to center yourself. This is probably the greatest use I’ve found for gratitude. Whenever I’m feeling upset or angry or frustrated or down, I think about the things I am grateful for and I feel much, much better. It really is a great tool to use to tackle some of the hardest emotions and I find that it almost always snaps me out of whatever funk I’ve found myself in.
• Use gratitude to live in the moment. When I’m struggling to live in the moment (as I often am!), I find that being grateful really helps to bring me into the present. It’s easy to get caught up thinking about the past or worrying about the future, but when I look around and start thinking of all the things I have to be grateful for, I find that I’m really, truly living in the moment.
• Use gratitude to enhance relationships. Nothing makes a relationship better than when you are truly grateful for the other person. Sure, all relationships have ups and downs, but if you keep gratitude in mind no matter what you’re going through, you’re more likely to have a much better relationship. Be grateful for the people in your life and you’ll find that your appreciate comes through in your words and actions.
• Use gratitude to motivate yourself. Sometimes I find that it’s hard to get motivated and I wonder what I can really contribute to the world. That’s when I start using gratitude again. Once I start thinking about all of the things I’m thankful for — including my own abilities — I feel a lot more inspired. Being grateful can motivate you to believe in yourself and it can also inspire you to look around you and see all that you have to offer the world.
• Use gratitude to overcome hurdles. Life is pretty hard sometimes, but when you find yourself focusing on what you’re grateful for, all of the trials you have to face become more manageable. I can’t say that gratitude is a cure all for every problem, but it really does help to put things in perspective when you’re going through a tough time. Next time you’re feeling down, think of all the things you’re grateful for. I guarantee you’ll feel inspired!
• Use gratitude to improve your health. I’m not a doctor or a scientist, but I’ve read on more than one occasion that being grateful can actually improve your physical health. I don’t have any statistics to back up this claim, but I can say that gratitude greatly reduces my stress level, which ultimately makes me a much healthier person. One thing I know for sure: gratitude certainly can’t hurt your health, so it’s worth a try to start thinking grateful thoughts.
  

  this is from the Positively Present Blog

I have noticed a giant pile of things I can work on to be a better person, the person I talk about wanting to be, and the kind of person I try to surround myself with.

this image was taken from Dallas Clayton’s new book: An Awesome Book of Thanks