I am in the process of learning that starting small has helped me in powerful ways.
Not trying to change everything at once. Not forcing myself to feel a certain way. Just beginning with what’s already here and noticing it.
Gratitude, for me, has become a quiet practice—simple, steady, and surprisingly powerful. It doesn’t require much time or effort, just a willingness to pause.
Sometimes it looks like a brief meditation: moving my attention through my body and noticing how I feel. What’s tense? What’s working? What feels supportive, and what feels a little off? I don’t try to fix anything in those moments. I just notice. That awareness alone often brings clarity.
Before bed, I try to name one thing I’m thankful for. It can be big or small—a meaningful conversation, a good meal, a moment of calm. Sometimes I write it down, sometimes I share it with someone else. Ending the day this way helps me feel more grounded.
When I’m with family or friends, I love the “rose, bud, thorn” practice: A rose: something that went well; A bud: something you’re excited about or hopeful for; A thorn: something that was challenging or weighing on you.
There’s something powerful about naming these things, especially out loud. It creates connection, perspective, and a little more honesty.
I recently found it interesting, while looking up the definition of gratitude, that a chart showed how frequently the word has been used throughout history. It peaked in prominence in the 1800s—a time when appreciation and acknowledgment seemed to be more openly named. Thankfully, the word is trending upward again.
Gratitude, according to Oxford Languages, is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” The word itself comes from late Middle English, with roots in Old French and medieval Latin gratიტudo, derived from the Latin gratus, meaning pleasing or thankful. There’s something grounding about knowing this practice has been named, valued, and carried forward for centuries.
I recently heard someone say their intention for the new year was stewarding what they already have. That idea really stayed with me. It feels like gratitude in action—working against the constant push for more, faster, better, and instead focusing on caring for and appreciating what’s already present.
The other day, I was speaking with someone about reflecting in the moment and “bathing in it” so to speak. They told me they were trying to dwell and notice the nice moments while they were happening. We sat together in peace and observed, feeling grateful not just for the things we were noticing, but also in sharing that moment.
It isn’t always easy to slow down and notice what we have. But I’ve seen real benefits from this small practice: recognizing what’s already here, appreciating it, and allowing myself to sit in that warmth, even for a moment.
Here is an invitation to start small too.
What are you grateful for?
Warmly
Coco @ Sacred Ordinary