Feeling Grateful for… Gratitude? Yes!

The subject of gratitude naturally comes up around Thanksgiving. But what if gratitude was something we experienced throughout each day, all year? And not only for obvious good stuff — like when you almost got in a car accident but didn’t (phew!), or you take a vacation — but for small things, too?

Like the beauty you encounter on a hike (below), or a smile from a stranger when you’re having a bad day.

About a year ago, I read about the pre-bedtime practice of writing down three good things that happened to you that day, or that you are grateful for. The idea is to prompt some self-reflection and to calm your mind before sleep.

I’ve never been great at journaling, so I felt half-hearted about the whole thing. Still, I gave it go. Well. Writing about three good things was easy and fast and I realized quickly that this exercise made me feel grounded and positive before switching off the light.

Turns out, those positive vibes really matter for health. Research shows gratitude is good for our sleep, stress and overall mental health. How cool is that?

Hendricks Park, Eugene, Ore.

If you’re already running around life grateful for all the things, keep it up. The world needs you! But if you’ve had your head down, mind spinning on tasks and worries and all that’s gone wrong, it’s high time to practice some gratitude.

This may sound forced or contrived. It sort of is, at first anyway. But it works, my friend! It’s easy to get started, then I’m guessing you won’t want to stop.

This exercise quickly became a habit for me and I look forward to it each night. Over time, I’ve noticed more moments each day — in real time — for which I’m grateful, and that helps me put in perspective any negatives going on.

Sometimes my gratitude is in the form of relief, like when my son and husband arrived safely in Oregon after a two-day drive from Colorado. Often, though, I’m noting small bits of goodness, like when an orchid someone gave me two years before had finally bloomed again.

So give it a try and let me know how things go.

To learn more about how gratitude benefits health, check these articles about gratitude and sleep and mental health.

In the meantime, thank you — my clients, my friends and family — for supporting me and my work, which I thoroughly enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving!