Gratitude That Outlasts Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving may be over, but the spirit of gratitude doesn’t have to end with last week’s holiday. What if we could carry the essence of Thanksgiving with us every day, making gratitude not just a moment but a way of life?
In the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to focus on what’s missing, what’s next, or what you wish you’d already achieved. But gratitude shifts that focus. It invites you to slow down and recognize the blessings you already have, the people you love and who love you back, the opportunities before you, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
As Brian Chalker said, people come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Gratitude helps us honor each of these connections, honoring them for the unique insights and roles they play in our journey.
Gratitude teaches you to cherish the present, to savor every moment, and to recognize that life is about more than what you don’t have or who you haven’t become yet. It’s a time for celebrating your wins and carrying over that sense of wonder and purpose towards your next milestone.
Gratitude Shifts Time and Perspective
What would you do if you knew you had five years left to live? Or one year? Or just six months? Gratitude has a remarkable way of helping us put our lives into perspective. It forces us to focus on what truly matters—our relationships, our health, and the small but meaningful moments we often take for granted.
Gratitude Will Transform Your Life
Gratitude shouldn’t just be confined to a single day. It’s a practice that can permeate our lives and the lives of others year-round. It’s in the choices we make to show and live out of a space of gratitude like:
- Taking the time to listen deeply to the people we care about.
-Spending more quality time with the ones we love, making them feel cherished.
- Offering help and support, as a direct reflection of the gratitude we feel.
- Showing up with love, kindness, and a heart full of thankfulness in every interaction.
Gratitude feels like buying your life a new dress—it gives you a fresh perspective that helps you step into each day with a sense of wonder, freshness and elevated motivation. It transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary and reminds you that the most valuable gifts in your life are always free.
Gratitude in Every Generation
One of the greatest gifts gratitude offers is the ability to recognize and show respect for the wisdom in those who’ve come before us. When older loved ones and friends share some of their experiences they can teach us invaluable life lessons. When you take the time to listen and truly “see” them inside their stories, you not only honor them and show you care but it builds depth, compassion and empathy towards others.
A Gentle Challenge
What are 3 things you’re grateful for even over a week after Thanksgiving? Who in your life has been a gift for a reason, a season, or a lifetime? No one makes it fully on their own. It always takes a village. Take a moment to reflect and let them know how much they mean to you. A quick text or note will make their day. Gratitude is a practice, recognizing and counting all our blessings is so valuable. The more we make it a habit in little and big ways, the more reasons we’ll find to be thankful for.
Real gratitude doesn’t exclusively happen on Thanksgiving—it can transform the way you live every day. I can’t overpromise that it will change your life, but I can assure you that being grateful will indeed elevate every aspect of your life. It will definitely linger with you, long after Thanksgiving as a habit for life.
All my best,
Maria A. Mansfield, CLC
Author, Speaker & Women's Purpose Life Coach
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