Thoughts on Being Thankful
It’s easy to forget the good stuff. The stress, the problems, the annoying little things pile up. Suddenly, your mind is completely wrapped around everything that’s going wrong, and you spiral down.
Lately, it feels like almost every day brings some new annoyance. The car’s engine light pops on. The dog leaves a mess on the carpet. Your back is sore. There’s an error light on the dishwasher that just got fixed last month. You forgot to pay a bill. You’re trying to cook dinner, and one ingredient is missing. A friend lets you down. On and on it goes.
And those are just the small things. Sometimes it’s much heavier. Your daughter gets seriously sick. Your son crashes his car. Your wife hates her job. The dog breaks a leg. A loved one passes away.
But what if you made it a habit to remind yourself of what’s going right instead? What if the last thing you thought of before falling asleep wasn’t something annoying? What if you simply stopped every day and took a moment to seek out what you could be grateful for instead?
Gratitude isn’t just a nice feeling—it’s a tool. Used consistently, it can shift the way we see our lives for the better, instead of always feeling like the world and our lives are crap. The only hard part is remembering to practice it and then making time to actually do it. What does being grateful actually look like? Is it as simple as pausing to say “thanks” and expecting everything to magically feel lighter?
One tangible way is to keep a journal and write down the good things that happened – or didn’t happen. This practice can be just for you. It can actively shift your mindset. If you approach journaling in a positive way, it can make you more optimistic, less stressed, and even physically healthier. There’s actual science behind it. Studies show that people who regularly practice gratitude have lower cortisol levels (that’s the stress hormone) and even sleep better. I know that I’ll take all the help I can get in that department.
In recent years, I decided to take this advice and explore. I began trying to make small, daily notes of things I enjoyed, appreciated, or was thankful for in my journal. Nothing complicated—just quick, honest reflections on what stood out each day and things that I wanted to remember. Some days it was as simple as a great conversation or experience with my family, a productive work session, an accomplishment, a good meal, or a moment of quiet with my morning coffee. Over time, I realized how much these little entries helped me stay grounded and positive.
I’ll be honest—I don’t do this every day. I have a reminder that pops up on my phone every day, but I can’t always engage with it. Most of the time, simply feeling grateful and content feels like enough. But on the days when I’m weighed down, taking a moment to pause and list the things I’m grateful for can change a lot. It doesn’t erase the struggle, but it lightens it, and that small shift can make a world of difference.
I’m not a fan of old school pen and paper, so I use an app to capture my thoughts on my phone and my computer. That way, it’s always there and with me whenever I have a few minutes to do the work. No overthinking. No long-winded journal entries. Just a quick list of things that I’m grateful for that happened that day. It could be a small win, a kind word, a thought that your family is healthy and thriving, or simply something that made you laugh. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
I’m sure that many people will worry that gratitude journaling will become just another task that’s added to an already busy, stressful day. It’s something that sounds good in theory but doesn’t actually change much. But I’ll tell you from experience, if you make the time to do this consistently, it can rewire how you view your life.
Instead of letting the bad moments take center stage, you’re reminded to seek out and acknowledge all the good ones too. Many times, you’ll notice that the good usually outweighs the bad. When you do this, you begin to train your brain to focus on positivity. And that shift can impact everything—your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and so much more.
At the end of the year, I decided to put this to the test. I went back through all my journal entries, notes, and my photos from the year to challenge myself to compile 100 things I was grateful for. I figured it would be tough. The good news is that I hit 180 and had to stop. I could’ve kept going.
Looking back at everything that had happened in the past year, I didn’t just remember random good moments. I felt them again. The small victories. The unexpected joys. The things that might’ve seemed minor at the time all added up to something meaningful.
Here are just 10 random things that were on the list:
My daughter for kissing me on the head before going to bed every night
My son Matthew for loving movies and shows — and watching them with me
My son Brendan for getting engaged
My parents for wanting to spend time with us
Spicy Asian noodles with an egg and chili crunch
Winter walks in the dark with Christmas lights
Funny animal videos on Instagram
The first time seeing the northern lights
Reading a book about sea shells
My wife for loving me and always taking care of our family
This isn’t about forced positivity. It’s about perspective. The best way to see how much good is in your life? Simply remember to stop and notice it instead of focusing on the never-ending list of annoyances, that, like it or not, are part of life. Keep track of it. Every time you do it, it will be a small but positive spark within your day. And when you look back, you might just be surprised by how much good there is.
You don’t have to write pages of reflection or essays. Just a few words each day or a bulleted list can make all the difference. Over time, you’ll notice patterns, moments that would have otherwise slipped away unnoticed or forgotten. And the best part? You’ll build a record of proof that even in the hardest seasons, good things are always happening.
