A heart full of gratitude shapes the way I think and how I respond to things. I begin my day with writing 5 things I’m grateful for. While I’m thankful for my family and my health and all the big things that are good, I focus on the small things in the morning. I’m mindful throughout the day about things I can be grateful for so I can easily write them down the following morning and remember the good that happened. 

What are some small things I’m grateful for? 

• Having groceries already in my fridge for an impromptu breakfast with my parents

• Daisies that started blooming unexpectedly in our yard

• An encouraging text message from a friend

• A short line at the Starbucks drive thru

• Friends stopping by on their walk past our house

I encourage our kids to find the small things they can be grateful for during the day too. At dinner every night, we go around the table and say one thing we’re grateful for from that day. We often ask follow up questions to hear more and it gives us so much insight to how they’re feeling. This time at dinner is something else that I’m grateful for. 

This practice has taken me from being on autopilot to being aware and appreciating the activity around me. In the beginning I found it hard to write about 5 things from the previous day and now I have to pick my top 5 most days. There is so much good around us!

To help get you started on your daily practice of gratitude, I created an easy printable one-sheet form! Feel free to print a few and share with friends! 

CLICK HERE FOR PDF