LastyearIcalledemergencyservicesbecauseIfoundmypartnerunconsciousonthefloor.Withinminutesapolicecarandambulancearrivedfilledwithpolicedoctorsandnurseswhomovedmypartnerawaytotheemergencydepartmentwherehereceivedthecriticalcarethatheneeded.

AweeklaterstillmarvelingattheimpactofahandfulofstrangersIwrotethank-younotestothosehelpfulpoliceanddoctorsandnursesandbakedforthem.Itwasasmallgesturewithabigimpact.WhenIdroppedoffcakesatthepoliceandfirestationstheythankedmeforthegifts.IdroveawayfeelinglightandhappypartlybecauseI’ddoneagooddeedbutmostlybecauseIwasamazedthatthereareselflesspeoplewhodolife-savingworkandexpectnothinginreturn.Researchhasshownthatsharingthoughtsofgratitudeandperformingactsofkindnesscanboostyourmoodandhaveotherpositiveeffectsonyourhealth.

Whenyoufeelthankfulforthingsyou’vereceivedorsomethingthat’shappenedthat’sgratitude.It’simpossibletofeelitinavacuum;othersarealwaysresponsiblewhetherthey’relovedonesstrangersorahigherpower.“Gratitudeishowyourelatetootherswhenyouseeyourselfinconnectionwiththingslargerthanyourself”Ruchsays.

Todaymanypeopledon’tstoptoappreciatewhattheyhavemuchlessexpressgratitude.Ourinstant-gratificationlifestylemaybetoblame.

“Withcommercialandsocialmediaeverythingisspeedingtheyoungergenerationtomakethemfeelthattheyarethecentreoftheuniverse”saysTamikoZablithfounderoftheLondon-basedetiquetteconsultingfirmMindingManners.“Ifit’sallaboutthemwhythankothers?”

Whynotthankothers?Studieshaveshownthatpeoplewhoexpressgratitudeincreasetheirhappinesslevelslowertheirbloodpressurelevelsgetbetterqualitysleepimprovetheirrelationshipshaveapositiveimpactontheirdepressionlevelsandarelessaffectedbypain.

Becausegratitudeisafairlynewfieldofstudyresearchersarestilltryingtoidentifyitscause-and-effectrelationshipwithvarioushealthbenefits.

61.Theauthor’spartnerwassavedlargelydueto_____________.

A.hisgoodluck B.therescuers’jointefforts

C.theauthor’simmedia