Gratitude: A Sharing Not Just for Kindergarteners

Studies have shown that feeling thankful and expressing gratitude can improve sleep, mood and immunity, decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. In other words, gratitude is associated with a whole host of mental and physical benefits. Most notably, grateful people tend to be oriented toward others. They want to serve, cooperate and collaborate with others. They tend to be more trusting and compassionate and are often described as cheerful, joy-filled people. This certainly rings true for the University of St. Francis community.

In a recent publication of the Princeton Review, the faculty at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois are described as kind-hearted, dedicated “dinosaurs” who love teaching. Quite honestly, in my humble opinion, some of us are entirely too short to be the gentle, plant-eating Brontosaurus, but I suppose it’s better than being associated with the carnivorous Tyrannosaurus-Rex. Although, proportionally speaking, most of us would have the proper arm length of that creature.

The review goes on to say that undergraduates believe the dinosaurs, I mean the professors, really want their students to succeed. Furthermore, despite the absentminded-professor-persona that some teachers exhibit, on the whole, students believe that the faculty genuinely care for the entire student body, treating each student with individual respect.