A Simple Gratitude Practice for All Year Round

Happy Thanksgiving!

First, let me say I’m grateful you’re here reading this.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays as a foodie. One that could be hard as someone with Celiac disease, but I’ve been blessed with a mom who cooks up a feast of foods I can safely enjoy.

This is also the holiday when we publicly announced our pregnancy 7 years ago with this “food baby” photo from 2018!

Practicing gratitude has always been something I’ve wanted to share with my family. Before having our son, I’d ask my husband things he was grateful for each day. This wasn’t something that came naturally for him. Each day he’d repeat the same three things until it became easier for him to recognize there was a lot to be grateful for.

Once our son was old enough to participate, we started having him tell us one thing he was grateful for as well.

This little practice has become a staple part of our family dinners every day now.

While we focus on gratitude on Thanksgiving, I like to challenge people to bring it into their daily lives.

Here are a few simple ways to get started:

• Pick out one thing, no matter how small, at a similar time each day, stacking it on to something you already do…habit stacking can help build the practice.

• If you live with others, start asking others what they are grateful for. You might find inspiration in what others find gratitude for.

• Start a gratitude journal. Maybe a new journal and start a list. Maybe write one thing each day. As your practice grows, you’ll probably find you can list multiple things each day you’re grateful for.

And that is because when you practice gratitude, you train your brain to notice even more good things.

Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can also reduce inflammation, help release your feel good chemicals, and promote feelings of connection…who doesn’t want more of that?!

Back in 2024, I participated in a women’s retreat. Each of us were required to share some of our “medicine.” For my share, I chose to lead a gratitude practice each night at dinner, just as I do with my own family.

So I hope you’ll take this little message to heart and open yourself to incorporating gratitude into your daily life.

If you feel inclined to share, I’d love to know what you’re feeling grateful for today!

And here’s this year’s family photo with special appearance from one of our 3 fur babies!