BETWEEN YOU, ME AND THE FENCE POST

By LeaAnne Wurmli, BFO Director of Communications leaanne@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Practicing Gratitude and Thankfulness

In a year where most things have felt out of our control and the impact of social isolation has set in, it would be unrealistic to not expect some sort of mental or even physical wellness fallout. As they say, “something’s gotta give.” Having returned to work recently from a year-long motherhood sabbatical, I have learned a thing or two about managing the feelings that come with loss of control and social isolation.

As a result of the pandemic, there seems to be many things out of farmers’ control, beyond just the typical challenges of weather and wavering market prices. Accessing parts for broken equipment, finding processing space for finished animals, evolving consumer and foodservice purchasing habits, and navigating the new world of commerce and communication are all just a few examples of the everyday challenges of 2020. So, it makes complete sense if you’ve been overcome from time to time with feelings of worry, frustration or even anger.

Compounding loss of control, farmers have also been faced with social isolation. Some would argue that farmers are used to working autonomously, which is true to some extent, but prior to the pandemic there was still an outlet for human interaction and escape at the local hockey rink, community church or restaurant and coffee shop in town. Finding time away from the farm has no doubt been especially hard over the last several months and unfortunately will likely continue into the winter months.

As we approach the season of gathering, it can be helpful for all of us to recognize and appreciate the things we can be grateful for. While it may sound cliche, much research has been done around the science of practicing gratitude and its alleged health benefits. A study by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, author of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, shows that simply keeping a gratitude journal - regularly writing brief reflections on moments for which we’re thankful - can significantly increase our well-being and life satisfaction.

The act of practicing gratitude and thankfulness not only helps us feel more content, it has shown through research to improve sleep, reduce feelings of pain and stress, allow us to experience more positive emotions and improve our ability to express more compassion and kindness to others.

Expressing gratitude doesn’t always have to be grand in thought; it can be as simple as being thankful for a big piece of homemade apple pie or being grateful for your furry farm dog companion. In my brief research on the topic of gratitude, many experts suggest that practicing gratitude should be done daily, perhaps around the dinner table, and the more detailed, the better. For example, being thankful for my partner is accurate, but being thankful that my partner picked up the kids from hockey practice tonight so that I could finish chores in a decent time is much more descriptive. By being descriptive, we can slowly change the way we perceive situations by adjusting what we focus on. Another expert suggests mixing up the way we count our gratitude blessings. For some, writing them down in a journal is helpful, for others it could be a daily mental reminder during coffee break. Another recommendation is to create a family gratitude jar. When a family member has a thankful thought, write it down on a piece of paper and pop it in the jar. When New Year’s Eve rolls around, begin a new family tradition - dump the jar, read aloud, and reminisce together!

I will close with my thought for the gratitude jar. I’m thankful for the many farmers across the province who continue to make daily sacrifices to provide me and my family with a plentiful food source. I know from experience that the sacrifices aren’t always obvious - it’s a dad who can’t always tuck his kids in at night, or a mom who has to miss a baseball game or science fair, or a family that has to miss out on a trip because things need done on the farm. I, and many others, appreciate your hard work, resilience and the care you show for your animals and your community. OB