As we step into the months of gratitude, the world seems to sparkle with reminders of thankfulness; pumpkins on porches, “blessed” signs in shop windows, and social posts that count blessings like a to-do list. But if you’re grieving, those words can sting a little, can’t they? When your heart is aching, gratitude can feel like one more thing you’re failing at.
How can we practice gratitude in a world that feels like it’s spinning out of control?
Here’s the truth: gratitude doesn’t cancel out grief. It doesn’t erase your sadness, your loss, or your longing for what once was. Gratitude simply sits beside grief; two emotions sharing the same chair, learning to breathe together.
You can be thankful for a memory and wish you could relive it.
You can feel blessed for your people and still ache for the one who’s missing.
You can be grateful for the sunrise and still cry through it.
Gratitude doesn’t ask us to be cheerful. It just asks us to notice.
This month, as the world around us leans into “thankful and blessed,” I want to invite you into something gentler — a practice of noticing.
Throughout November, I’ll be sharing daily gratitude posts across my social channels. Each post will offer a quiet nudge to reflect, to breathe, to find one small flicker of light in your day, even if it’s the way your coffee smells or how your pet curls up beside you. These aren’t meant to fix your grief. They’re meant to remind you that even in sorrow, moments of grace still find us.
So, when you see one of my posts, pause for a moment. Read it slowly. Ask yourself:
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What does this mean to me right now?
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What is one small thing I can whisper “thank you” for today?
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How can I honor both my grief and my gratitude in this season?
You can even take it to your journal, jotting down a line or two about what you’re noticing, what hurts, what helps, and what hope still lingers. There’s healing in the noticing.
And as you practice both grief and gratitude this month, know this — I’m sitting beside you. We’re walking this winding road together, one thankful tear and one tender breath at a time.
Your Holiday Heartlift Awaits
Speaking of comfort, I’m so excited to share that the doors for my Holiday Heartlift open tomorrow, November 1st!
Use the code HOLIDAY50 to receive 50% off your purchase. Once you join, you can dive in and read your welcome message on the Telegram app and get everything ready before the first message drops on November 30th.
The Holiday Heartlift is a 25-day (plus 2 bonus days!) journey designed to bring comfort, support, acknowledgment, and hope during one of the hardest times of the year. Whether you’re grieving a death, facing a divorce, dealing with financial strain, or navigating complicated family dynamics — this is for you.
Each daily message is a soft landing place for your heart; a mix of encouragement, reflection, and gentle guidance to help you breathe through the season that often feels too heavy.
It’s a beautiful gift for yourself or for someone you know who’s struggling this year. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give is reminding someone they’re not alone.
I can’t wait to walk this season with you. Let’s find gratitude in the grief and grace in the growing.