Module 2: Increasing Social Connection

Write a letter expressing thanks and read it to them.

Begin by thinking about someone that has done or said something (tangible or intangible) that made a difference in your life. It can be a relative, colleague, significant other, volunteer, friend.  Write as though you are addressing this person directly, i.e..

“Dear ______.”

Don’t worry about perfect grammar or spelling.

Describe in specific terms what this person did, why you are grateful to this person, and how this person’s behavior affected your life. Try to be as concrete as possible.

Describe what you are doing in your life now and how you often remember his or her efforts.

Try to keep your letter to roughly one page (approximately 300 words).

Let that person know you’d like to see him or her and have something special to share, but don’t reveal the exact purpose of the meeting.

When you meet in person or virtually, let the person know that you are grateful to them and would like to read a letter expressing your gratitude. Ask that they refrain from interrupting until you’re done.

Take your time reading the letter. While you read, pay attention to their reaction, as well as your own. After you have read the letter, be receptive to their reaction and discuss your feelings together.

Remember to give the letter to the person when you leave. If physical distance keeps you from a personal visit, try to arrange a video chat.

Having a daily family sharing practice is a great tool for building connection. Sharing one (or more) things that are going well not only makes for a positive conversation but also helps us each – individually – grow our gratitude muscle. Sharing about what we’re grateful for can be at dinner, in the car, at bedtime, or whatever time works best with your family’s schedule. Just make it a daily habit and everyone will get used to it.

Every once in awhile it’s important to remind your entire family to stop and smell the roses. One great way to remind them of the little things in life they enjoy is through a gratitude scavenger hunt!

This activity will send everyone on a mission to capture photographs of their favorite things at home. They’ll find that they don’t have to go far to discover items that bring them joy and happiness.

Turn this into a competition by timing the hunt. Whoever completes their sheet the fastest wins.

To go on a gratitude scavenger hunt, you’ll need:

◻︎ Regular paper

◻︎ A printer

◻︎ A camera or camera phone

Directions: Once you’ve printed the scavenger hunt sheet below, get your camera or camera phone ready. Then, set off to snap pictures of your favorite things and check each item off the list once you’ve captured a photo. Once you have all of the photos collected, you can arrange them in a scrapbook so you can revisit the photos.

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt (English)

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt (Spanish)

You can teach your entire family gratitude with a daily gratitude jar activity. Each day, ask each member of your family to write down something they’re thankful for. The power of positive thinking can improve their mood and happiness. 

To do this activity at home, you’ll need:

• 3 sheets of regular paper
• 1 sheet of sticker paper 
• Scissors 
• A printer 
• A mason jar 

Directions: Start your gratitude jar by printing the cards below on paper. Cut along the lines to get 10 gratitude to-do’s. For a full month’s supply, print three times. From there, replace your regular paper with sticker paper and print the gratitude jar label. Cut this label and attach to a mason jar. Voila! You’re ready to start your gratitude jar. Decorate your jar with colorful ribbon or paint.

Gratitude Jar Activity (English)

Gratitude Jar Activity (Spanish)