Gratitude Challenge: Week 1

Think of me and this newsletter as your accountability partners.

This is where I will do my gratitude practice. A corner in my room.

Happy May, Gratitude folks! I am so thrilled that a lot of you were down to do a challenge with me this month. I want this to feel easeful for everyone, so below, you will find my suggestions on how to create a gratitude practice. Since this month is mental health awareness month, I think partaking in gratefulness can be super helpful in nurturing our emotional well-being. This article is great if you want to read more about gratitude's psychological benefits.

To participate is simple—for the entire month of May, keep a gratitude list. That's it. That is the call to action. Every week, I will share my gratitude list, and I plan to elaborate on the thing that resonated the most. I'll welcome you to do the same in the comments. Think of me and this newsletter as your accountability partners. The goal here is to create a practice that captures the micro-moments we often overlook. This practice doesn't have to be deep or overly reflective, but as the days go on, you may be called to dig a bit deeper and explore the things that come up on your list.

Rainy day walking with my youngest kiddo, Maxi.

Allow yourself to flow through this. If you miss a day, don't sweat it. If you feel this isn't for you after a week, all good. This practice should feel supportive, not like a pain or hassle. My hope here is that you find and make time to be present in your life. So often, we are moving too fast to see what's in front of us. Gratitude practice offers us a moment or two to slow down.

My timer is set for 8 PM EST every night. That is when I plan to sit down for a few minutes and recall my day. If you're someone like me who needs a reminder, I'd suggest setting your timer. Make yourself comfortable when you sit down to write. If you're aiming for nighttime reflection, cozy up somewhere, put on some nice instrumental music or nature sounds, and vibe out. For folks doing morning reflection, include it in your routine. Maybe that looks like keeping your journal by your bed and jotting something down before you get up. Or perhaps, you get up, do your morning routine, and journal while you drink your morning cup of tea or coffee.

Tulips from the woods! Such a beautiful blessing from my walk on Saturday.

However you decide to participate in this practice, just make sure you're intentionally carving out the time to add to your gratitude list. I hope this brings us close to ourselves and each other. Create community in the comments. Share your gratitude, both big and small. Invite a loved one along if you'd like. Take note of how you feel before you begin this practice. Like, actually write those feelings down. At the end of the month, we will share how/if we feel a difference.

I think this is going to be lovely! You can see my first two gratitude reflections below.

May 1st: I am grateful for alone time with each of my daughters this weekend. It's beautiful to watch them change and grow. When we have one-on-one time, I feel like I can really take them in—really see them. I'm thankful for that and them.

May 2nd: I am grateful for a day without calls or meetings. This hasn't happened in months! It felt good to take it easy and not feel rushed to get things done or be somewhere.