‘Thank You’s for Health
My partner and kids were in a car accident on Friday. Our Honda Odyssey was totaled. The investigating officer asked my 9-year-old daughter Angela, “Can you tell me what happened?”
“We were driving to school,” she answered. “I closed my eyes to give them a rest. Then I think I started to day dream. There was a loud pop so I opened my eyes. There was smoke. My mommy got us out of the van.”
Fortunately, my family wasn’t significantly hurt and no one was killed. I am thankful.
Sometimes in life we are thankful for big things. Other times, we can be grateful for small things, like a stranger smiling at us as we walk to class. But how often do we say thank you to the people we are grateful for?
Researchers have found that “people who express gratitude on a regular basis have better physical health, optimism, progress toward goals, well-being, and help others more” (Emmons & Crumpler, 2000 http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/faqs.htm).
Let me say that again: when you regularly tell others what you are thankful for, you improve your health, your attitude, your accomplishments and your overall wellness. On top of the great benefits you receive, you encourage and uplift others, too.
I would like to use today’s health blog to encourage everyone to express your gratitude. Please post something you are thankful for in the comments below.
In that spirit, I thank the Daily Nexus staff for allowing me to write this health blog. In particular, I would like to thank Jerry Roberts for introducing me to Opinion Editor, Nicki Arnold who okayed this blog. Nicki, I thank you again for your support, editing and getting the blog format going.
I also would like to thank friends who gave me feedback throughout the process: Cheryl Takahara, Betsy Reynolds, Jamie Truscott, Mark Shishim, Joanna Hill, Debbie McHann, Tamzen Hull, Lorie Morris, Dr. Elizabeth Downing, Dr. Mary Ferris, Sabina White, Lorie Morris and everyone who posted their questions and comments.
Lastly, I am thankful for all the students I work with, teach and mentor. You make my job as a health educator a fulfilling life-calling. Thank you for being who you are.
Michael Takahara is a health educator at Student Health. Post comments, suggestions, questions here and or email Michael.takahara@sa.ucsb.edu.
[Ed. note: Thank you, Michael, for being such a dedicated blogger and making my job that much easier!]
54 Responses to “‘Thank You’s for Health”
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I am thankful for having the opportunity to have worked with you (Maka) once before
It was one of my greatest experiences and you have been one of my favorite mentors.
I’m happy to hear you and your family are okay…
Oh, and I will never forget you teaching me how important it is to thank others…a valuable lesson I will never forget. I still have my thank you letter from you!! I cherish it
for starters, I am DEFINATELY Thankful that I do not have Finals to prepare for as I graduated from UCSB last Spring!!!
I am forever thankful for my family who have helped shape who I am today and supported me throughout my education… I would not be where I am today without their unconditional love.
There are so many friends and family members that I am thankful for as they bring meaning, joy, and love into my life everyday in big and small ways.
I am also thankful for the random acts of kindness from strangers who give me a reason to smile even when everything else is getting me down and remind me the impact even the smallest gestures can have for other people.
I hope you all enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving with those you love and appreciate the most!
i am so thankful for opportunity.
I am thankful for my amazing mom who has gone through great lengths to help me get through school, my partner who inspires me each and everyday, my super cool residents who make me love my job more & more and of course Mr. Maka for being a fantastic advisor and mentor!
I am thankful to be here in Santa Barbara in a community who pulls together in rough times.
I am grateful that I can live in Santa Barbara and not have to deal with snow for 8 months a year anymore.
I am so thankful that I took a job at the University 12 years ago because I have wonderful co-workers and I get to help fantastic students do crazy awareness activities!
I am thankful for my family, friends, and my nephew Joey who always brings a smile to my face!
I am thankful for all of the opportunities that have bee given to me, and to those who have always supported me.
I am thankful for having been able to be a part of STAR and make a difference.
I am also thankful for having the opportunity to meet and work with Maka (Michael Takahara), and having his positivity and hope around all the time. I learned so much from Maka and STAR, and I want to thank you guys for having such a powerful influence on my life.
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
I am thankful for being able to go to UCSB- something that seemed impossible 4 years ago this time when I was finishing college apps.
I am thankful for my support network here at UCSB and at home- the advisors, friends, coworkers and loved ones who have done things for me like driving me to the train station at 5 am and coming over when I sliced my finger open.
I am also thankful for the people on our campus who are passionate. Thank you for putting in so much energy to the different programs, organizations and events that make our community so vibrant.
I am thankful for UCSB, sunny friday afternoon sailing in November, and packs of dolphins saying hello
I am also thankful for all of the peer health educators at UCSB, who inspire me everyday!
I am thankful for all the all-nighters, stress, and frustration I experienced because I was fortunate enough to attend and finish college. Sometimes, we should stop and look at the things we are frustrated with and see the true blessing behind them. Thanks Maka for this blog and making me realize one more thing I’m thankful for. THANKS TO S.T.A.R. as well!
I am thankful for everyday I am alive. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for my eyesight and ability to walk. I am thankful that I don’t have to worry about paying the bill or having food for the next day. I am thankful that I go to such a beautiful school and that I am receiving a great education. I am thankful for my health, youth, looks, and good spirit. I am thankful for my sanity and the ability to regain my sanity through long peaceful walks on the local beach. I am thankful to have met so many wonderful, intelligent, kind-hearted, and passionate people in my life (that definitely includes you Maka). I am thankful that I have gotten to travel to many other places in the world and for all the joy that those and related experiences have brought me. I am thankful for music and love and humor and everyday that I get to smile and truly enjoy life. And I am especially thankful that I have become a person who is aware of all the amazing things in my life and that I am grateful for every part of it.
I am thankful for our amazing UCSB community. I smile every time I ride up the hill at Goleta Beach during the bicycle commute. Often, I have met up with Dave B, John B, Mike E, or another of my UCSB friends and we glide along into a day filled with variety and the gift of working at a whole campus filled with scholars, leaders, and good citizens. And I am very thankful for the Takahara family. I am so pleased that you are safe. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Don
I am thankful the amazing opportunity to help so many students with a variety of career and college issues. I am thankful for meeting and being part of such an amazing career services staff at UCSB. We are a family and I look forward to many great times with each and everyone of them. Most of all I am thankful for the support and love of my family and fiance that makes me feel I can do ANYTHING! Everyone have a wonderful THANKGIVING!!!
I am thankful your family is safe and able to share the joy of a thanksgiving day with everyone present and accounted for! I am thankful for my own family that bring me joy on a daily basis and for the opportunity to feel the love. I am thankful for the ability to laugh and share silliness with the people I work with.
I am thankful for the feeling of hope and renewal I get every Monday afternoon when I hold babies at the University Children Center! Many many blessings to you all.
I’m thankful for life, health, family, & friends. I feel fortunate to live in this community and be a part of the UCSB family. All my friends and co-workers are amazing people who make coming to campus not feel like “work”. Most importantly, I’m thankful for my beautiful Carolyn and our new baby girl Liliana!
Oh yeah, and I’m thankful for good Pinot Noir…
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I am thankful for family and friends who love each other and make positive change in this world in so many ways. I am thankful for the good health of my parents. I give thanks for the gently falling rain that is replenishing our reservoirs, bringing nourishment to my vegetable garden, and (so far) not causing further damage to areas already devastated by fire. And I give thanks to Mike for reminding us of the gift of gratitude!
Molly
I am thankful for the rain.
I am thankful to be living in a beautiful world of people who somehow continue to show spirit and courage.
I am thankful for all the wonderful people I have worked and laughed with at UCSB. I am especially thankful that, even though I have moved on, I am still making new memories with my friends in Santa Barbara. Until I see you all again, Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for my life: an amazing partner committed to me, parents who try to understand, sustaining friendships, and work that allows me to contribute to something bigger than myself.
I’m so glad your family is safe and sound! And I am grateful to you for the reminder to appreciate the everyday-ness of living. I am grateful to my “family” (both my relatives and the friends, co-workers and neighbors who are my larger family) for making my life so rich, and to the greater community of creatures, places, rocks, sea, and all that goes into making it so lovely.
Thank you for all of the wonderful things you do.
I am thankful for finding a great job after graduating and moving into my first place! And I am definitely thankful for having Thanksgiving off so I can spend it with my family (Not to mention getting it off paid woohoo!).
I am thankful for my friends, family, and laughter. Without these things, I would not be the person I am today.
I am thankful for all the good people I work with, and the love that surrounds me every day at work. I am thankful for my sweetheart at home, who I love so much. I am thankful that I have a job, and good food to eat, and a way to get around. I am thankful that on my way to work I can take APS and stop for a moment to look down at the ocean and across to the islands, and wonder what all the dolphins and whales are doing right then. I am thankful for our home and for all the beauty that is there – the roses blooming out front, the trees, and for all the animals that are around our home – the hummingbirds coming to the feeder we put right outside our window, the parakeets flying around inside, and our little rabbit jumping around on the floor. I’m thankful that our rabbit house-trained himself to use the newspaper, so that it is feasible to have him live inside with us! I am also thankful this morning to learn that “people who express gratitude on a regular basis have better physical health, optimism, progress toward goals, well-being, and help others more.” I express gratitude all the time! I didn’t know it was helping me in all these ways, I just like doing it!
I’m grateful it’s raining…though I am concerned for the burned areas
It is a great honor and privilege to work with an amazingly wonderful and dedicated staff at Student Health…. and easy to say that I am so thankful for this every single day of the year, not just on Thanksgiving!
Maka,
I am thankful your family made it through the accident! Good on all of you! I am also thankful to be inside watching the rain. I am grateful for the time to see so many great places in the world and meet people who are so interesting and often pleasant. I agree with Maka, being grateful/thankful is one of the best things of all, it makes my heart glad!
Today is the anniversary of my Grammy Helen’s passing. I am so very grateful for the amazing 33 years I got to know her and learn from her. I am grateful that she had a good life. I am grateful to her for teaching me how to be a good mom, partner, kid, cook (well, I am still working on that one). And of course, I am grateful for all of the living folks that have supported me through this past year.
I am thankful for all the great staff and students I get to work with everyday.
I am also grateful for my family and friends and look forward to spending extra time with them starting tomorrow!
I am so thankful for my health and well-being! It allows me to enjoy my life and be of service to others.
I am thankful for this wonderful UCSB community that I get to call my home away from home. It has provided me with a great education and a great career! I am also thankful for my wonderful husband Andrew and our beautiful 16 month old daughter Keira! Life doesn’t get much better than that!
I am thankful for so very much. Most recently I am thankful for the people, the series of events, and the decisions that have brought me to UCSB for work and to live in this community. Even more so I am thankful for the family and friends back home and the new friends here in town.
Family, friends, and health are reasons to celebrate through thankfulness…this amazing journey of love and learning … called life…
I am thankful that California is finally getting rain and hope that it is gentle enough for those in the burn zone.
I am thankful that I have a job, my health and benefits when so many are losing theirs.
And beyond that are friends, family and co-workers to be thankful for.
I am thankful for the wonderful life I have been given; to live in this beautiful city and work with the most amazing people. I am also thankful for the challenges that keep me grounded and remind me everyday that I am blessed.
Of course I’m most thankful for my friends, family and for Ruben.
I am thankful that God is looking out for me and will love me no matter what.
I’m thankful that I ‘ve got great kids and the best wife in the whole wide world!
I am thankful for my family and community of friends, and the opportunity to raise a bright and beautiful young woman to adulthood.
I’m grateful for dancing under full moons and no moons; friends who have stood by me for 22 years, my gradma’s soft hands and a smile that comes through the phone even when I can’t see her. My day brightens every time I see my nephew, who just learned how to say…”awe fom!” (awesome!)
I am thankful for so much. For today, I am thankful for the couple I met yesterday at Trader Joe’s, who have been married for 50 years. They remind me that it is those we love, family and friends, who are our greatest treasure.
I am thankful for my former students. Especially those that leave excessively generous messages for me about my impact on their lives.
I am thankful for the time off work to be able to come home and spend the holidays with family and friends!
I’m thankful and feel blessed that I got to be with my father when he died.
I am happy to be in UCSB, my time there so far has been virtually the most enriching time of my life.
Friends, classes, events, and just the general environment of the campus have made me start calling it home.
I love my friends too and I miss them, however we’ll see each other soon and I’ll also be seeing my friends from Oakland soon too!
Thanks for the blog Maka, it’s always good to remember the positives in life, lest we sail into the possibly perpetual sea of negatives.
Among countless other blessings, I am thankful that Obama is our president elect and that he shows the wisdom and leadership we disparately need in America.
I am thankful for everything and every one that is in my life, I am also thankful for all the food that we can eat on this Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for all my friends and family, and last but definitely not least, I am thankful for being at UCSB.
I am thankful to have had such wonderful friends, family, and mentors throughout all my life. Thank you again Maka (as well as the rest of the UCSB peer health ed gang!) for all you have taught me over the years. I can honestly say I use all of the tools I have learned every day, and you all have been such positive influences and wonderful mentors! Because of my family, friends, and peer health education, my life is great! Miss you all!
I am thankful for everybody and everything around me. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to go to UCSB and receieve an education. In addition, I am thankful to have my cat. =]
I am thankful for new friends, keeping old friends, the great staff that I work with, family and health. I am also grateful for the folks that helped me out when I crashed on my bike-both friends and stranger with a blanket!