I think it can totally make a difference, and it’s more than an idea. The article shows that being grateful helps us stress less. When you are less stressed, your heart and body work better, you sleep well, and you generally get sick less often. So, while gratitude isn't a magic pill for a super long life, it helps you live a healthier life, which naturally means you might live longer and feel better

2. In a world dominated by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, do you believe people are becoming less grateful? What might help restore a culture of gratitude?

Yes, I think people are definitely less grateful now. We’re always seeing perfect lives on social media, which makes us focus on what we don't have. Everything moves so fast that we don't stop to appreciate the small things.

To fix this, we need to try to disconnect more often. Even five minutes a day without your phone can help us notice the good things around you. Schools and families should also make it normal to talk about what we are thankful for, so it becomes everyday habit

3. Some experts suggest daily gratitude practices, like journaling or expressing thanks at dinner. Do you find these ideas meaningful or unrealistic in modern life? Explain your point of view

I think these practices are meaningful because they force us to stop and see the positive. It's a great way to improve your mood. But sometimes the suggestions can feel a bit unrealistic. Who has time to write in a journal every single day? It’s hard to keep up with. Instead we can thank the ones who are there in our lifes, just a short message, or at dinner, it can be an habit to appreciate the food, the health or the day in general. The goal is to feel grateful

4. Your opinion about the article.

I really liked the article. It makes sense because it uses science to prove that simply being thankful can improve your health and mood. It’s was actually a useful article. It convinced me that taking a few seconds each day to be grateful is a simple thing anyone can do to make their life better and less stressful.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/gratitude-enhances-health-brings-happiness-and-may-even-lengthen-lives-202409113071

Based on this and the article, I do think that gratitude has some effects on someone’s life and can help to carry a better life (physically and mentally); however, the longevity of life depends on other factors, some of them out of our hands.

2. Yes, I believe people are becoming less grateful, especially the young generation. A perfect example of this is that when teens see something new on social media (such as a new phone, shirt, collectible item, or makeup), they immediately want to buy it (some literally demand their parents to buy them that stuff they want so badly), even if they don’t need it, often forgetting to thank what they already have. Even though this happens frequently, I can’t say that this applies to every single person (I can´t generalize the situation). Another example is when people prioritize recording and taking pictures over simply being present, missing the opportunity to enjoy the moment and feel gratitude for what they have right there.

Now, something that might help restore a culture of gratitude is to begin to implement habits at home. These could be giving thanks after a meal, at the end of the day, or when waking up.

3. For me, this idea (taking into account the context) can be meaningful for some people. While some individuals implement these practices and make them a routine, nowadays, most of society doesn’t really care or think that much about saying thank you for what they have; instead, they are just worried about asking for things. For this reason, even though adding gratitude practices in your daily life can actually be pretty easy, people don’t do it (it’s unrealistic to think everyone will adopt this habit).

4. The article was pretty clear, and I liked the way it took into account many things to back it up and give a conclusion for it.

It first gives an introduction, which helps readers to have some context, then mentions the study and specifies some things about it (it explains the pros and cons and some factors that may have influenced the results, which, for me, was really important), to finally finish the writing talking about gratitude practices that you can apply.

I think gratitude depends on each person and how they live. In my opinion, gratitude does not give us more years of life. I think it is a little strange to believe that a feeling can decide how long we live. Our life depends more on health, genetics, and how we take care of ourselves. But this does not mean that gratitude is not important. Gratitude can make life better, help us feel calm, and improve our relations with people. Still, I do not agree that it can make us live longer.

2. In a world dominated by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, do you believe people are becoming less grateful? What might help restore a culture of gratitude?

Here’s your text with the added part in English A2 level:

I believe this depends more on family education and values. A person who learns from childhood to say “thank you” will not forget this only because of technology or a busy life. Of course, friends or social media can influence people, but this does not mean they lose respect or good manners. To bring back a culture of gratitude, I think families and schools must teach it more. Also, people should have moments in the day to stop and think about good things, not only about problems or things they want. I think we are people who live very fast, with a lot of intensity, and for this reason we do not give ourselves rest or time to go slow and really appreciate life.

3. Some experts suggest daily gratitude practices, like journaling or expressing thanks at dinner. Do you find these ideas meaningful or unrealistic in modern life? Explain your point of view.

I think these ideas are good because they help people see positive things. But modern life is very busy, and not all people have time to write every day or to share dinner with family. This makes it difficult. Still, we can try simple things, like saying “thank you” to someone or thinking of one good thing in the day. These small actions are realistic and can change our mood and how we see problems. Also, people usually have bad habits with positivity, we are often negative by simple nature. Looking at small things is a way to start a new beginning. There are also different practices that do not take more than 10 minutes, like doing yoga to focus on yourself or saying words of affirmation in the morning.

4. Your opinion about the article.

I think the article is interesting because it shows that gratitude is not only about being polite, but also about health and happiness. Experts explain that gratitude can reduce stress, help us sleep better, and make relations stronger. I do not believe it can make life longer, but I think it can make life better and more meaningful. I like that the article tells us to practice gratitude every day in small ways. In conclusion, I do not agree with everything, but I think it is a useful text that reminds us to value good things in life.

Well I think that this is not possible, because maybe it can help with the emotional and social well-being, lower depression risks and better sleep quality, that could help to life longer and healthier but besides that I don’t think that being grateful its really going to make your life longer, I don’t see how that could be possible, but based on the article I think it’s a great way to see how the study makes you rethink about your practices and how to make them good.

2.

Well I think that in nowadays the people are really becoming less grateful because of different situations, i mean in a world like ours it seems difficult to be grateful for our lives, and I think this is because it’s easier to complain about what we don’t have than being happy with what we have now, so in this point ‘m not sure that the technology has something to do there, I mean of course that the technology in somehow has effects but it’s not the principal issue.

I think that some things that could happen could be being more positive about how we see the world, not seeing the cup half-empty, but half-full; trying to be more happy about every experience, good or bad; enjoying with the people that you love and trying to be a better person everyday.

3.

I find these activities very meaningful in nowadays, because this could be helpful to people become grateful again, and in this way make a little bit better. Even the technology could help us with this, because we can post about being grateful on social media and if that goes viral, a large part of society would start doing it.

4. Well I think that the text is very easy to understand, it makes it effortless to read and to expand on the meaning behind all of the studies and references that the text give you, so besides I don't agree with some things, it's a very good text that can make you rethink of your family traditions and how you can look the life with other eyes.

I would say that gratitude is much more than simply describing the concept of "feeling good," as it has a huge impact on how we live our daily lives and how this sustains our spirits throughout. By being grateful, we release stress and improve our overall mental health; and when we focus on the positive, we insulate ourselves, to a certain extent, from the worries of daily life. Reducing chronic stress positively impacts the heart, the immune system, and even the quality of sleep. So, by living a life with less stress and more satisfaction through gratitude, we pave the way to living a longer, calmer life, and above all, a better quality of life.

2.      In a world dominated by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, do you believe people are becoming less grateful? What might help restore a culture of gratitude?

I believe that technology and the constant changes experienced in modern life have made us less aware of what we have in many ways. We're so accustomed to instant gratification and seeing others' "perfect" lives on social media that it's easy to fall into temptations. The desire to have the latest technology, and indeed the most up-to-date, instead of appreciating what we already have can generate a constant feeling of lack or dissatisfaction.

To restore a culture of gratitude, I believe it's necessary to slow down and be more intentional. We could try something as simple as disconnecting for a while each day, putting aside electronics to truly see and enjoy what's in front of us, like food, important people, other entertainment tools, and even nature. Fostering personal connection with others and remembering that good things aren't a right, but something vital, also helps. In the end, it's about shifting our perspective from "what I'm missing" to "what I'm lucky to have."

3.      Some experts suggest daily gratitude practices, like journaling or expressing thanks at dinner. Do you find these ideas meaningful or unrealistic in modern life? Explain your point of view.

I find these ideas meaningful, even though some people see them as unrealistic or unnecessary in modern life. The problem isn't the practice itself, but the commitment it requires. Given the multiple commitments a person may have in their daily lives, even thinking about adding "keeping a gratitude journal" can be overwhelming and even annoying or uncomfortable.

Gratitude doesn't have to be a formal, time-consuming practice. Instead of viewing journaling as a chore, it can be seen as a quick way to organize your mind. I would argue it's more realistic to incorporate it into something you already do, such as, instead of journaling, simply thinking of three things you're grateful for while brushing your teeth or drinking your morning coffee. The goal of expressing gratitude creates a practice that allows you to pause and acknowledge the good, no matter how small.

4.      Your opinion about the article?

The Harvard Nurses' Health Study, highlighted in the article, establishes a significant connection between the practice of gratitude and lifespan, with participating nurses who reported higher levels of gratitude showing a 9% reduction in mortality risk over four years. This effect was sustained over a long period of time; another person involved in this study, Tyler VanderWeele, suggests that gratitude can influence lifespan by improving emotional well-being, motivating people to adopt more rigorous health habits (such as exercise), and strengthening social support networks. The activity underscores the universal accessibility of gratitude as a form of health without the need for external factors such as medicine. This positions the development of gratitude, through daily practices such as expressing gratitude or writing notes, as a valuable habit with the potential to help people opt for more common and simple practices compared to medical ones, which provide support in prolonging life and overall well-being.

I firmly believe that gratitude extends far beyond a feel-good concept, exerting a tangible influence on longevity. This is because gratitude is an active, transformative engagement with life, not a passive thought. It is a demonstrated catalyst for sustained happiness, which in turn has a profound correlation with lifespan. The physiological mechanism is clear: the dopamine and serotonin released through grateful practices are powerful natural antidotes to chronic stress, a known contributor to illnesses like hypertension or dementia.

Psychologically, gratitude functions as a crucible for resilience. Its power is most evident during life's harshest trials. For example, an individual facing a serious diagnosis who can still appreciate supportive relationships or small daily comforts often demonstrates superior coping abilities. This reveals a profound paradox: by embracing the ephemeral nature of life and finding gratitude for fleeting moments of peace or beauty, we build an enduring strength. This appreciation for transience should not be feared, but rather cherished as a reason to fully inhabit our time, potentially enriching and extending our lives.

2. 

The architecture of our modern, hyper-connected world is inherently antagonistic to the cultivation of gratitude. Our fast-paced, technology-driven lifestyles are made for continuous consumption and forward momentum, creating a state of constant distraction that pulls us away from the present moment. The constant weight of curated highlights from others' lives on social media fosters a culture of comparison and an insufficiency mindset, where we are made acutely aware of what we lack, rather than what we possess. The slow, quiet, and introspective space necessary for gratitude to flourish is often drowned out by the noise of notifications and the pressure to optimize every second. Therefore, yes, I believe the conditions of modern life make it significantly more challenging to be genuinely grateful.

However, this lack of gratefulness only proves its profound necessity. The solution lies not in rejecting technology outright, but in a conscious and deliberate cultural adjustment that creates space for mindfulness. We must actively promote the alternative act of pausing—of stepping off the hamster wheel to simply take in our surroundings without immediate judgment or the urge to document. This is about cultivating a stance where one's life, in all its imperfect and messy reality, can be viewed with a sense of strange, profound gratitude for the mere fact of its occurrence. This is precisely where trends like "Hope Core" or the "what a privilege" trend serve a valuable function. They act as soft reminders, viral prompts that cut through the digital clutter to reinforce the principles of mindfulness, reminding us that there are always small, significant things to be grateful for, from clean running water to a moment of unexpected kindness. Even music and media play a pivotal role in promoting gratefulness. With songs such as “peace” by Taylor Swift or movies like “The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” that promote appreciating life even when it gets dark and acknowledging that some life experiences must be cherished not by the pain their fleeting nature represents but by the light it momentarily brought to us. This essential perspective on gratitude deserves far more attention.

To move beyond fleeting trends and restore a deep-seated culture of gratitude, we need more structured interventions. This could involve educational programs that teach emotional literacy and gratitude mapping from a young age, or design choices in technology that encourage reflection instead of mere reaction. Imagine if our devices featured "mindful interruptions"—notifications that, instead of demanding a purchase or highlighting a crisis, gently asked: "Pause for a moment. What fleeting source of beauty did you notice today?" This would strategically honor the momentary, training us to value the temporary and often overlooked gifts: the specific quality of afternoon light on a kitchen table, the brief, comforting silence of an early morning, or the transient scent of rain on pavement. By thoroughly creating these pauses and directing our attention to life's fleeting beauty, we can reorient our consciousness from what is next to what is now, fostering a more appreciative and grounded way of life that on the long run contributes greatly to our well-being.

3. 

I find prescribed gratitude practices like journaling or dinner-table reflections to be profoundly meaningful, not at all unrealistic, but their efficacy is entirely dependent on their interpretation and application. The potential risk lies in treating them as rigid obligations to be checked off a list, which can strip them of their authenticity and reduce them to another chore in an already busy life. However, when approached as flexible frameworks rather than strict rules, they become invaluable tools for emotional and mental training. For beginners, the structure of listing three things each morning or journaling provides a necessary habit, training the brain to actively scan the environment for positives. This is the "exercise" component of emotional fitness.

The true essence of a sustainable gratitude practice, however, is its capacity for personalization and integration into the unique texture of an individual's life. The ultimate goal is to foster a consistent, authentic connection with one's own reality, and the "how" must be as diverse as human experience itself. For example, for an office worker, gratitude might be a structured two-minute ritual of listing down points of appreciation in a planner between meetings in order to find a moment of calm in a hectic day. For a person enduring a violent or unstable environment, the practice may be non-structured but infinitely more profound: the silent, powerful acknowledgment upon waking that they are alive and safe for another day. Both are equally valid; both honor the fundamental human need to recognize grace amidst challenge.

The philosophy of the fleeting nature of life I have been mentioning earlier provides the deepest reasoning for this approach. Gratitude is the emotional response to recognizing that something valuable is, by its nature, transient. Therefore, the practice must be agile enough to capture these fleeting moments in real-time, in a way that feels natural to each person. Perhaps a commuter finds their gratitude practice during the walk to the station, mentally noting things they appreciate. A new parent might find it during night-time feedings, reflecting on the temporary, precious nature of their child's dependence. By liberating gratitude from the notebook and allowing it to be expressed through voice notes, digital collages, or simple mindful moments, we make it a living, breathing part of our daily existence. In modern life, this flexibility is not a compromise; it is the key to ensuring that the practice of gratitude remains a genuine source of connection rather than just another item on a relentless productivity checklist.

4.

This article really puts the science behind something I’ve always felt in my gut. It’s cool to see a major study confirm that saying "thank you" for the good stuff in life isn't just a nice idea—it's actually linked to living a longer, healthier life. That 9% lower risk of dying they talk about isn't a magic bullet, but it’s a really powerful sign that our mindset matters in a real, physical way.

What makes the most sense to me is how gratitude builds toughness. The women in this study were in their late 70s, dealing with all the hard stuff that comes with getting older. The fact that those who could still feel grateful were better protected tells you something. It’s exactly what I think: gratitude isn’t for when life is easy; it’s your secret weapon for when life gets hard. It’s that ability to find one good thing, even on a terrible day, that keeps you from being swallowed up by stress. That kind of resilience has to affect your health.

I also loved that the article mentioned simple tricks like the "savoring exercise", just pausing to actually notice what’s good around you right now. That’s so key. In our busy, screen-filled lives, we’re trained to always look ahead to the next thing and we miss the little moments happening right now. This connects perfectly to my thing about the fleeting nature of life. It’s the idea that a moment doesn’t have to last forever to be precious. In fact, knowing it’s temporary makes it more special. Gratitude is like stopping to actually taste that perfect cup of coffee, or really feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin for a second, because you know it won't last. You're appreciating the bloom of a flower precisely because it won't be there forever.

So, for me, this article is a great reminder. It’s not about forcing yourself to write in a journal if that feels like a chore. It’s about finding your own way—whether it’s at the dinner table with family or just a quiet thought in the morning—to acknowledge the good, fleeting stuff. It’s about making gratitude a personal habit that helps you not just live longer, but actually enjoy the time you have.

2. I really feel that life is becoming less grateful because the fast rhythm and technology lead us to ‘autopilot’ and to focus on what we will miss, instead of appreciating the present. Technology keeps us in constant distraction, with social media and a fast-paced life.

What could restore a culture of gratitude is:

- Being more grateful

- Making a list of the things you are grateful for

- Appreciating the good moments, leaving the routine behind

- Gratitude journal to write down specific things (big or small) that you are thankful for.

- Mindfulness breaks.

- Gratitude rituals with the family.

3. I think they really are magnificent. Life today is very fast-paced, and we don't take the time to appreciate the good things around us or that happen to us. Experts suggest activities such as writing a journal or expressing gratitude at dinner precisely because these are intentional pauses that force the mind out of its cycle of ‘doing’ and ‘comparing’ and into a mode of “appreciating” and ‘being’.

4. This article is very informative and also discusses a topic that can help us have a better day. It is scientifically based, which makes it more trustworthy for people. The steps are easy to follow, show the benefits of doing this activity, and bring families closer together. I consider it a very comprehensive article.

2. In today’s fast and stressful world, gratitude is often forgotten. However, it is still one of the main values for us, since it is something we are taught from childhood and we use it every day as part of respect and good manners.

3. I think these practices are meaningful because they help people to be more grateful. As I said before, on stressful days, looking at the positive side makes us appreciate even the small things, which increases positivity and happiness. Also, simple tasks like writing good things in a journal or giving thanks during dinner, even if small, can really improve our mood.

4. My opinion about the article is that even though it was not very long, it gave me new and interesting information. Also, by answering the questions, I improved my understanding of the text.

2. Yes, because the constant digital stimulation and comparison on social media can lead to get bored easily and to the feeling of "never enough", like when you're scrolling on tiktok or reels, you can't get enough of them. But some prectices may help with that like, taking daily notes to note things that you're grateful for or sharing appreciation with you friends of family.

3. I find it meaningful and realistic because be grateful doesn't require hours, it just can be a quick word of thanks before or after a meal.

4. The article is really interesting because it connects something that may be inecesary for most of people like the gratitude with physical health and longevity, and also how the gratitude can bring balence and happiness in your life

I think that gratitude is a very indirect influence on how long we live, and maybe have a little impact, because, leaving aside the fact that it hasn't been 100% proven, the effects of being grateful are collateral, since it is generated after several processes that triggered the action. Gratitude improves your mental health, which at the same time can improve different physical aspects.

2.      In a world dominated by technology and fast-paced lifestyles, do you believe people are becoming less grateful? What might help restore a culture of gratitude?

Well I think it depends on the person and the place or status that they have, because it’s not the same thing people from poor countries or people that are living a conflict to people who are living in richest countries or have a high status, in the first situation these people are very grateful with the things that they may have, on the other hand its more difficult or rare to find a person who is grateful.

Now in relation to technology and fast-paced lifestyles, I do believe that currently there are few people that are grateful, cause now society is accustomed to having it easy and fast.

3.      Some experts suggest daily gratitude practices, like journaling or expressing thanks at dinner. Do you find these ideas meaningful or unrealistic in modern life? Explain your point of view.

I think that these ideas are meaningful and realistic in modern life, because they are easy to do, you don’t waste a lot of time and maybe improve some aspects such as connection with other people, your mental health, and be more conscious of the things or privilege we have.

4.      Your opinion about the article

I find the article very interesting, because it made me realize things that maybe are obvious or normal to me that I wasn’t very aware of, also it teaches me some things that I didn’t know, for example, the simple action of being grateful can trigger a reaction in the body that theoretically makes you a little bit healthier.

I really think being thankful can make a difference in how long you live, though it's not the only thing that matters. I remember that study in JAMA Psychiatry that said people who were more thankful had a 9% smaller chance of dying early, that's pretty big. When you pause and think about it, gratitude can change a lot: it can make us want to care for ourselves more, do better with stress, and feel closer to others. So, it’s not a way to live forever, but it helps us be healthier and stronger emotionally. It's more than just a good feeling; it's something that shows up in the numbers.

2. With all the tech and constant rush of today's world, do you think people are getting less thankful? What could help us get back to a place where gratitude is more common?

Yeah, I think our tech-filled, quick-moving world makes it easy to forget the small stuff we could be thankful for. Like, scrolling through social media often makes us compare ourselves to others and feel jealous instead of grateful. But I don't think tech is the problem; it's more about how we're using it. To feel more thankful, we have to try to be; like, slow down, take breaks from screens, and make small habits, like saying what we're thankful for during dinner or keeping a quick list. If schools and jobs included these things in our routines, being thankful could become normal, not just something we think about on holidays.

3. Some folks suggest doing daily things to be thankful, like keeping a journal or saying thanks at dinner. Do you think these are good ideas, or are they just not realistic for today's life?

I think these ideas are good, and we can totally do them if we keep them easy. You don't have to spend hours on it; just writing down one thing you're thankful for each day can really change how you see things. Something like saying thanks at dinner, is a good way to connect without needing more time. The problem is when people feel like they have to make it a perfect, long thing every single day. With our busy lives, the key is being able to change things up, quick, real moments of gratitude are better than a strict, hard routine.

4. What's your take on the article?

I liked how the article showed that being thankful is something science backs up but is also something practical. It balanced sharing real research, like the Nurses' Health Study, with giving advice that anyone can try. What I liked most was that it didn't make gratitude sound better than it is, it's clear that gratitude isn't a promise for a longer life, but it does have these small effects on our health and relationships. The feel of the article was motivating but real. For me, it's cool to see science confirm something simple can honestly change your life.

I really liked the article, and you can learn a lot by reading it, I will try to follow the tips an to ask myself the questions to evoke gratitude, because sometimes we don’t dedicate enough time to ourselves. I love these kinds of topics, about mind, positive thinking, personal improvement and psychology. I hope I learn more in the future.

I’m thankful for reading this article and learning more about health and happiness.