When I was a child, my parents made my siblings and I sit down and write “Thank you” cards for gifts we had received.

I hated it. It was work. And I was an ingrateful little snot.

Sure, I liked the presents. Usually. But I didn’t think beyond that. Didn’t consider the relationship. Didn’t pause to realize that someone had thought about me, found, bought, and sent something to me.

None of that registered. At least not until I wrote out those “Thank you” cards. I had to squeeze hard. And force out the very smallest drop of gratitude. But it was something.

I’m grateful that my parents made us do that. Because it forced me to think beyond myself. Even if it was in the faintest of ways.

Gratitude as a practice – not only a feeling

You might not be a snot like me. But I’ve found that if I wait to feel grateful for things – I often don’t. I forget. I get caught up in my stuff. I’m very goal-focused. Often, I struggle to stop and be grateful – I’m just thinking about the next thing I’m trying to get done. I have to stop, slow down, and be grateful on purpose.

As an adult, I’ve rediscovered how important it is to stop and become grateful. Here are some of the ways that practicing gratitude can impact you:

Gratitude reminds us to see good

It’s easy to get sucked into negativity, frustrations and problems. Gratitude reminds us that there is a lot of ‘good’ out there. From opportunities to relationships to small favors from a stranger to sunrises, to health, to local parks, to good coffee.

Gratitude helps us receive what is good

When we begin to see how much ‘good’ is out there, we realize that so much of it is available to us. Much of it has no cost associated with it. It’s nearly impossible to receive something we can’t recognize. Many of us have jobs or relationships or situations that have a lot of good in them. We don’t always need more or better. We often need to recognize what we have.

Gratitude helps us be humble

Gratitude acknowledges we have received good. And that this good wasn’t earned or owed. It was available or given to us. Gratitude reminds us that someone else has done something for us.

Gratitude turns around stinky attitudes

I’ve found that gratitude is a 100% effective way to get myself out of a funk about a person or situation. I create a list of 10 things I’m grateful for about that person or situation. This is rarely easy. Sometimes I’m squeezing hard for the smallest drop of gratitude. But every single time, when I’ve completed my list, my attitude has changed.

What if…?

What if you could see more good, receive more good, be more humble, and positive attitude? 

What if practicing gratitude might be all you need to do? 

I’m thankful

For all the Americans reading this, I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday.

For readers elsewhere, I hope you create a moment to enjoy gratitude.

For all readers, when I write, I hope to provide value and provoke a helpful perspective. I’m grateful for your engagement, comments, questions, and interest.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christian

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