Happy Thanksgiving.

I hope you all are surrounded by loved ones, enjoying a delicious meal and the many comforts of life.

And, if you are working or otherwise unable to spend the day with family, I hope you have a day full of blessings and pleasant surprises wherever you may be.

Thanksgiving is rooted in some dark history, but I choose to focus on the good. Today is a special day to share food and quality time with our families, and it’s also a reminder that we should live with a grateful heart every single day. Here’s how I practice gratitude daily.

1. Upon waking

I mentioned it on Instagram, but I like to begin my mornings with a simple gratitude practice. In the shower or as I’m getting up from bed, I immediately turn my mind to 3 things for which I’m grateful. Sometimes it’s silly, and sometimes it becomes repetitive, but it’s always a nice start to my day, especially if I’m feeling more tired or anxious than usual.

2. Through movement

Exercise is such a gift. Our bodies are meant for activity, so rather than punish myself through grueling workouts, I look to movement as an opportunity to show gratitude for my health and abilities. It feels amazing to stretch, get my heart beating, and challenge myself. Sometimes I favor a gentle workout (a leisurely walk, yoga, etc.), but other times I crave more intense movement. No matter what, I try not to dread my workouts because there will come a day when simple exercise is more difficult.

3. Among nature

I love being outside—especially this time of year. On my outdoor walks, I try to soak in the sunshine, the cool breeze, and the sounds of birds chirping or the wind rustling the leaves. Most of the time I’ll just walk and take all this in, but sometimes I’ll do a brief walking meditation to center myself. It’s important to remember the beauty that surrounds us, especially when many of us spend most of our time indoors.

4. Through art and expression

Painting, photography, this blog—all are ways I try to share my “gifts” with the world and, to borrow from Elizabeth Gilbert, say “thank you” to divine inspiration (Big Magic) for choosing me as a vessel for thoughts, ideas, and imagery. We all have something to share, so it’s important not to take our creativity and talents for granted.

5. By practicing mindfulness

I am pretty terrible at mindfulness—I’m always distracted, thinking about the next thing I’m going to do or what needs to be done. And, yet, I’m grateful for the challenge. By practicing mindfulness, I can appreciate what I’m feeling in the moment, even if I am sad, angry, frustrated, or anxious.

This may not be mindfulness, per se, but I try to say (and mean) “thank you” or “I appreciate you…” as often as possible. 

Telling my husband “thank you” for picking up our son from daycare or cooking dinner is, of course, just the nice thing to do, but it also helps ground me if I’m frustrated over something else.

#Thanksgiving talk: how I practice #gratitude daily Share on X

So tell me…

• How are you spending Thanksgiving this year?
• How do you practice/express gratitude daily?