Paper towels seem like nothing—until your coffee spills or your kid sneezes on the counter. Today, I’m thankful for little resets, quick cleanups, and the chance to start over. Whether it’s a mess in the kitchen or in life, I’m reminded: I get to wipe it up and move forward.
Today’s one-word gratitude is steady. Not perfect. Not exciting. Just steady. The friend who checks in. The car that starts. The heartbeat in your chest. When life feels wobbly, I thank God for anything that stays steady, even if I almost forget to notice it.
Ten years ago, I didn’t know how many things I’d survive. Job loss. Disappointment. Growth. Today, I’m grateful not just for what I have—but for what I’ve come through. What would the old me thank the present me for? I think he'd be grateful I didn’t give up.
On a day when America celebrates freedom, I’m grateful for the deeper kind—freedom to choose my perspective. I don’t always get to choose what happens. But I can choose how I respond. And gratitude gives me that freedom, again and again.
I have to take out the trash. But today, I get to be thankful there’s trash to take out. It means we have food, a home, and services we take for granted. Every “ugh” is a chance to say, “God, thank you that I get to live this life.”
It could be your kid’s belly laugh, a friend’s snort, or your own half-chuckle in the middle of a hard day. Today, I’m grateful for laughter—because sometimes it’s the holy sound of healing sneaking in.
I’m not the only one trying. Today, I practiced Level 2 of the Gratitude Ladder—thanking God for what someone I know has experienced. A friend finally slept through the night. Another is getting therapy. Their stories remind me we’re all in this together—and I get to be glad for their wins too.