Thanksgiving Tips: How to Practice Gratitude By Tana Poncsak
There’s a lot of chatter about how being thankful and practicing gratitude can help one live a healthier and a happier life. We hear about it in inspirational quotes on social media, discussed on podcasts, and we even read about it in various articles in magazines and on the web. It’s November and the month of Thanksgiving, and while many will be reminded to give thanks as a result of the holiday, let’s look at some ways we can practice gratitude all year. 1. Take a look at your values and how you spend your time. Perhaps those values have shifted along the way. Think about the things you value most and why you value them. Are you missing some special people in your life? Perhaps you need more time to yourself. Whatever it may be, time to yourself or more time for the special people in your life, think about ways to spend more time on the things you value in your life. 2. We’ve all heard it before, but it bears repeating. Stop comparing yourself to others. It’s easy to do, especially with social media 24 hours a day, but it’s counterproductive. You’re unique, so be thankful for your uniqueness and learn to lean into it. 3. Keep a gratitude journal. You don’t have to write a page every day. A few lines will do because being consistent is important. Just the act of writing something down can have a positive impact. 4. Be generous about saying “thank you” when you’re out and about in the community. In a world filled with road rage and other bouts of anger, it’s refreshing to encounter someone with a gracious spirit. Continued on page 21
Meet GCAA: New Academy Helps Students Re-Engage in Learning By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
As the 2023-24 school year begins, students confronted with challenges that have sidetracked their educational aspirations have a new opportunity to earn their diplomas through a flexible, personalized course of study. On Tuesday, September 26, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to introduce Gwinnett County Acceleration Academies (GCAA), which is working in partnership with the public school district to offer a flexible, personalized curriculum to students who did not succeed in traditional schools. The event featured Gwinnett County Public Schools Superintendent: Dr. Calvin Watts, GCAA educators, and their students. “We are so excited to work with Dr. Watts and his colleagues to provide an option for young people who need a non-traditional path to their high school diploma and the brighter future it can bring,” said Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Acceleration Academies, Mark Graves. “As our growing number of graduates can attest, having the chance to pursue a personalized path to graduation enables young people to, as our motto says, #OwnYourSuccess.” The program began in October 2022 at a temporary location. The ribbon-cutting marks the official opening of the new, permanent campus. Among the students who have found their learning home at GCAA is Shamyiah Lewis, who spoke at the event. Shamyiah moved to Georgia from New York halfway through her senior year. She felt out of place in a traditional high school, and decided to drop out. Then she discovered Gwinnett County Acceleration Academies and hit her Continued on page 21
November 2023 Our Town Gwinnett
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