How to get better at being thankful, any day of the year

Plus, taking on structural racism in therapy [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( November 27, 2022 by Andrea Muraskin So the tryptophan has worn off, and now you’re racking your brain thinking of what to get that cousin you only see once a year (I think he likes golf?!), while worrying about whether the cough you’re developing is COVID, RSV, or the flu. The good news is gratitude doesn’t require gravy – [and it’s something we can work at](. Plus: a new group of therapists makes the case for [addressing structural racism and generational trauma]( in the counseling room. And an acclaimed oncologist shares the [thrill of discovery in the growing field of cell therapy](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Tips for keeping grateful going all year long]( DrAfter123/Getty Images It’s one thing to be thankful when you get a day off to eat and spend time with loved ones (especially if someone else did the cooking 😉). Finding things to be grateful for on a normal day, or [when you’re going through a hard time]( can be more of a challenge. But there are ways to strengthen your gratitude muscles, so to speak. Reporter Andee Tagle asked a psychologist who studies gratitude and an indigenous artist and educator for tips. They recommend practices like keeping a journal of things that you’re grateful for, and taking note of small things, like a friendly bus driver or a gentle breeze. If you forgot to thank your uncle for that great train set he sent your kid last year, write a letter or send an email now. The likelihood is he’ll appreciate it. Need more incentive? There’s evidence that giving thanks can lower stress, help you [sleep better, lighten symptoms of depression, and more](. [Plus: How to have a good weekend]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Here's how some therapists are tackling structural racism]( Kristen Uroda for NPR Eden Teng is Cambodian American, daughter of a refugee mother who survived genocide in her home country. As a kid, Teng admired her mother for her energy and independence. But she felt confused by the way her emotions could spiral out of control for seemingly no reason, and by her many health problems. Studying psychology in college, she learned that her mother’s past was closely connected with her mental and physical challenges. It made a lot of sense. But in grad school she noticed a gap: instruction about forces that shaped her own life – like race and immigration– was lacking. "I didn't feel represented, and I felt that so much of my family's history just didn't feel like it was considered," Teng remembers. Now Teng has joined a movement of counselors trying to make therapy more relevant and accessible to people of color. That means working with clients to examine the external pressures, stressors, and layers of oppression they’ve been through. For example, she says many children of refugees struggle with feelings of guilt around their parents’ sacrifices, and feel pressure to achieve that can be harmful to their wellbeing. Teng and others like her want to help clients [see their culture as a form of intergenerational strength, rather than suffering](. [Also: CDC director declares racism a ‘serious public health threat’]( [Why Siddhartha Mukherjee is ‘giddy’ about cellular science right now]( [Siddhartha Mukherjee won a Pulitzer Prize for his 2010 book, The Emperor of all Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.]( Deborah Feingold/Simon & Schuster "It's hard for me to convey the excitement that's sweeping through the whole field of cell biology,” oncologist and cell biologist Siddhartha Mukherjee told NPR’s Fresh Air, ... “the kind of headiness, giddiness, the madness, the psychic power that grips you once you get into the field.” In his new book, [The Song of the Cell]( Mukherjee writes about the emerging field of cell therapy and about how cellular science could one day lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, HIV, diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Mukherjee won a Pulitzer Prize for his 2010 book on cancer: The Emperor of all Maladies. Mukherjee has been working with genetically altered T-cells for over a decade. (T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play an essential role in the immune system). For example, to treat a 7 year-old girl with leukemia, Mukherjee and his colleagues started by extracting T-cells from the child’s body. Then they used gene therapy to alter the cells, so they would recognize and attack leukemia cells specifically. Finally, they infused the altered cells back into the patient’s body. He hopes that with more research, this technique can be used to take on solid tumors like those found in lung or prostate cancer. Mukherjee also spoke with Terry Gross about how his own depression helps him empathize with seriously ill patients, and [how the scientific method persevered through political battles over COVID-19](. [Plus: Accumulated mutations create a cellular mosaic in our bodies]( Before you go: [A resident carries her groceries at a supermarket in Beijing, on Friday. Residents of China's capital were emptying supermarket shelves and overwhelming delivery apps as the city government ordered accelerated construction of COVID-19 quarantine centers and field hospitals.]( Ng Han Guan/AP - Listen: 'The Long COVID Survival Guide' to [finding care and community]( - Beijing residents clear supermarket shelves, [anticipating another COVID lockdown]( - This new seasonal flavor will have you [rethinking SPAM…or not]( - How will states spend $26B from the [settlement funds in opioid cases]( We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots and follow us on Twitter at [@NPRHealth](. All the best, Andrea Muraskin and your Shots editors --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]