We have a tendency to take things for granted.
We all do it. It’s part of being human.

We acclimate to all the good things we have in our lives and begin to focus on what we don’t have or what we don’t like. The “I wish…” “I want…” and “I need…” thoughts grow louder than the quiet truth of how much we already have. But what if we slowed down, just for a moment, and noticed? To realize how much you do have, let’s take a second and really contemplate that. Consider what you have in…

• Your family (blood or chosen)
• Your friends and community
• Your body, your mind, your health
• The mountains, rivers, trails, land or forests that surround you
• The work you get to do and the people you do it with
• The ways you play, create, and unwind
• The food you enjoy
• The small routines that make your life yours
• Anything else resonating?

Now pause. Feel it. Let gratitude move from something you think about to something you actually experience. Consider for a second, if any of these things were taken from you, what you’d be willing to do/to give to get it back?

Why It Matters (The Science of Gratitude)
Gratitude isn’t a fluffy emotion. It’s a psychological strength that improves our well-being, connection, and even performance. Studies show that regularly practicing gratitude can:

• Increase our optimism and resilience
• Increase meaning in our lives
• Strengthen our relationships
• Reduce stress and burnout
• Improve our sleep and physical health
• Build trust and community collaboration

It literally rewires our brains to see possibility (abundance) rather than scarcity. And that shift in mindset shapes how we show up. As coworkers, teammates, friends, leaders, neighbors, and community members.

Gratitude Requires Action
Gratitude isn’t just a feeling. It’s a choice. A perspective.
A strength we can develop, kinda like doing reps at the gym. It’s a muscle we can build. A powerful way to express gratitude is through action, especially action rooted in what you value.

For instance, a couple weekends ago, I was joined by a handful of amazing humans and we cleaned up a mile stretch of highway 6, near Eagle in the Eagle River Coalition Community Pride Highway Cleanup. We picked up 47 bags of trash in one mile. We got our butts kicked. I am still feeling grateful for them and all the people who joined in our entire community (850ish people in total) to take on the task of being human trash vacuums. I feel fortunate to live in a place where the community cares deeply about their outdoor environment.

An Invitation: Choose Gratitude Today
When we see our lives through the lens of gratitude, everything shifts. How we lead. How we communicate. How we live alongside one another. So here’s a small challenge for you today:

• Find a few things you’re grateful for
• Tell a person thank you for something you’ve never thanked them for before, and be specific
• Take an action that gives back to where you work, where you live or to the people you care about

Gratitude is a powerful antidote to having a fear-based mindset. We have the power within us to chose gratitude, which then can change how we lead, how we interact with others and the broader world to which we exist in. If you have a minute, how does practicing gratitude change how you communicate with those you work with? Those you share life with? Those whom you are in community with?

There is so much of our existence, our lives, our work, our play to truly love if we pay attention to it. Choosing to practice gratitude can help you see and feel it.