Ever since I was little, I have memories of doing Thanksgiving day with our extended family and everyone going around the room saying one thing they are grateful for. It always felt a little awkward and cheesy, but also really special to hear every family member say what they’re thankful for.
I feel like thankfulness / gratitude is having “a moment” right now lol. Kind of like how quinoa had a moment, “self care”, intermittent fasting, jade rolling…lol. I feel like all self-help books / IG accounts are always talking about the importance of listing what you are thankful for. The past 3 planners I’ve purchased have had a space at the top of the day where it says “3 things I’m thankful for”. Thankfulness is v trendy right now.
Despite it’s “trendiness” though…I’ve personally been having a moment with “thankfulness” recently. Every night after I feed Shiloh, before putting her to bed…I pray with her. I list off all of the things we have to be thankful for. “Thank you Jesus for my Daddy who loves me, thank you for our house, thank you for our church,” etc. And at the end of a work day where I often feel stressed or frazzled or annoyed or just tired…I find so much peace and perspective in taking the time to thank Jesus for all He has given me. Thankfulness isn’t just a trendy “feel good” thing to check off your list. When you truly practice thankfulness, it truly helps you to pull your nose back from the piece of paper right in front of you, and gain a bigger and sweeter perspective on life. Yes, maybe a work deadline is stressing you out, or maybe someone said something to you that hurt your feelings. But when you take the time to thank Jesus even for the most basic things in your life, you’re reminded of how richly blessed your life STILL is, despite what may or may not have happened that day. And there’s so much peace that comes with that.
It’s so easy to get really stressed this time of year – traveling and family and holiday shopping and deadlines and ALL THE THINGS. I have found so much peace and perspective and joy, even on stressful days, during those nighttime prayers with Shiloh where we practice thankfulness. If you’re going through a stressful season right now (or even if you’re not!), I want to encourage each one of you to take 5 minutes out of your day – morning or night – and just list off 3 things that you are thankful for that day. They can be super specific or really broad. I’ve found this practice of thankfulness helps bring so much perspective and peace into your day. Because despite a bad day or a crazy to-do list…you are healthy. Your heart is beating. You have a roof over your head. You had food on the table today. You have a husband or a family who loves you. Boom. Perspective. Peace. Thankfulness.
Shop this look
favorites from the new Kendra Scott collection:
Quick sidebar to talk about the accessories I’m wearing in these photos! I recently got some new Kendra Scott pieces that I absolutely love! To be honest, there’s never been a time when I’ve browsed their site and not found a million things I want. My sisters and mom are the same way! Kendra Scott pieces are so stunning and feminine, and the perfect variety of timeless + on-trend. These Jolie drop earrings I’m wearing will be my go-to for any holiday party, Thanksgiving dinner, and just everyday wear. They are so lightweight and make such a statement without being too loud, if that makes sense. If y’all are looking for new jewelry for the holiday season or just needing a great gift idea for any girl on your list, definitely check out the new arrivals at Kendra Scott!
Now back to gratitude. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. But what if we carried the practice of giving thanks into our everyday lives, throughout the entire year? I think we’d find our lives to be filled with a lot more joy and peace and perspective. At least, that’s what I’ve found over the last few months when Shiloh and I started ‘giving thanks’ every night in our prayer time together! So I wanted to share with you guys and encourage you to do the same.
Thanks for reading!
This post was created in collaboration with Kendra Scott. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!
xo Lauren
