“Train your mind and heart to see the good in all things. There is always something to be thankful for.” ~Unknown
I was rushing through life, always doing what I needed to do, always feeling like I was chasing something that was just out of reach. My days were a blur of deadlines, errands, and commitments. Yet, in those quiet moments, when I finally laid my head on my pillow at night, I couldn’t shake this heaviness, this feeling of emptiness.
I kept telling myself that once I finished the next big project, once I accomplished the next goal, I would feel better. But that “good” feeling never came.
Then one afternoon, something changed. After a tiring day at work, I was sitting in my car, staring blankly at the traffic in front of me. The world was loud and chaotic and I felt disconnected from it all. I couldn’t remember what I had for lunch or if I was actually attending the meeting I’d spent hours preparing for. I just…existed. Let’s move forward with the motion.
It wasn’t a big game-changing event for me. There were no grand revelations or life-changing moments. It was something as simple as a song on the radio. I had heard this song countless times before, but at that moment I had a different impression of it.
The lyrics talk about stopping, breathing in life, and seeing beauty in the everyday. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I noticed the warmth of the sunlight shining through the car window. I noticed that my breathing rhythm was steady, calming the anxiety rising in my chest.
It was as if my mind became a little clearer, enough to give me a glimpse of what I had been missing. That fleeting moment was an “aha” moment for me, the moment I realized that I had been living my life on autopilot without truly appreciating the present moment. I was running so fast that I forgot to feel the ground beneath my feet.
I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the beginning of a profound change for me. The next morning I decided to try something different. Instead of reaching for my phone the moment I woke up, I lay in bed, just breathing, and just being. I looked around the room, felt the softness of the sheets, listened to the gentle sounds of the outside world. It was a small change, but it felt monumental.
Over time, I started practicing gratitude. I kept a small notebook by my bed and every night I wrote down three things I was grateful for. At first, it felt like a forced exercise, like I was trying to push myself to be positive. But gradually, the practice became more natural. I found myself appreciating the little things: the crisp morning air, the smile of a stranger, the sound of rain hitting the window. Moments that once seemed like cheating now felt like treasures.
Mindfulness was the next piece of the puzzle. It wasn’t about meditating for hours or trying to reach a state of enlightenment. It was just about being. Whether I’m walking, eating, or just sitting quietly, I’ve learned to focus on the present instead of worrying about the past or the future. I started savoring my morning breakfast, but didn’t gulp it down as soon as I walked out the door. I noticed the color of the sky, the shape of the clouds, and the feeling of the cool breeze on my skin.
My relationships also started to change. I was spending more time with my loved ones and really listening to what they had to say, instead of planning my reactions or getting distracted by my own thoughts. I laughed more freely, connected more deeply, and most importantly, I began to fully and fully express myself.
I kept coming back to the realization that life was happening right in front of me and I was missing it. As the weeks passed, my new habit of practicing gratitude and mindfulness began to be woven into my daily life. Every day feels a little lighter, a little more grounded, and I’m starting to realize things I’ve always taken for granted.
I used to think that gratitude was only given for big things, like a promotion, a vacation, or accomplishing something important. But when I started exploring its deeper meaning, I realized how wrong I was.
I realized that gratitude resides in the smallest moments, in the details that we often overlook. It’s the way my morning drink warms my hands on a cold day, or the way my cats get so excited that I touch them as if I’ve been gone for weeks, even though it’s only been a few hours. It looks like they are welcoming you.
After weeks of practicing this new way of thinking, one morning I stood by the window and watched the sun slowly rise. I’ve seen hundreds of sunrises in my life, but that morning felt different. The sky was pink and gold, and the air was cool and crisp against my skin. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the moment settle within me. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was truly alive. the current. Connected.
At that moment, I realized something profound. Being grateful is more than just a habit. It’s a way of life. It’s the lens through which I view the world now. And through that lens, everything feels more vibrant and more meaningful. The more I was grateful for the little things, the more little things I had to be grateful for. It was as if my life, which had once seemed boring and mundane, was now sparkling with possibilities.
One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is that I look at challenges differently.
Life doesn’t suddenly stop throwing challenges your way. The days were still tough, we were pressed against deadlines, and sometimes things didn’t go as planned. But now, instead of getting swept up in frustration and self-pity, I find myself stopping, breathing, and asking myself, “What can I learn from this?” or “What does this teach me?” It wasn’t always easy, but each time I reframed the problem, I felt like I found a little bit more peace.
One particularly difficult day left an impression on me. It was one of those mornings when everything seemed to go wrong from the start. My alarm didn’t go off, I spilled water on my way to work, and by lunchtime I’d already encountered one small disaster after another, leaving me feeling exhausted and defeated.
The old me would have fallen into a cycle of frustration and negativity, but something stopped me from going down that path. Quite literally, I took a step back. I walked outside, feeling the sunlight on my face, and asked myself, “What can I be grateful for right now?”
It felt forced at first. My mind resisted the question, but I persisted. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh air. As I looked around, I noticed the bright green of the trees, the birds chirping, and the simple fact that I had made it through half the day. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. And at that moment, I felt my tension begin to ease. It reminded me that no matter how busy life is, there is always something to be grateful for if you take the time to notice it.
This new way of thinking has not only affected me and my relationship with myself. It changed the way I interacted with others. I have become more patient, more understanding, and more present. Where I used to be quick to judge situations or assume the worst, I now stop and reflect. I learned that everyone has their own struggles, their own battles, and that sometimes a little kindness and empathy can go a long way. Gratitude has made me softer, more compassionate, and more open-minded.
Mindfulness has also become a constant companion. Interestingly, something as simple as paying attention can completely change your experience.
I began to realize how often I get caught up in my own thoughts, lost in worries about the future and regrets about the past. Mindfulness brought me back to the here and now. It helped me understand that all we really have is this present moment, and that is enough. In fact, more than enough.
I started incorporating mindfulness into everything I do. Washing the dishes became a meditative act, feeling the warmth of the water and hearing the sound of dishes lightly touching each other. Walking gave me an opportunity to notice the world around me, the feel of the ground beneath my feet, the sounds of life buzzing around me. Even mundane tasks like folding laundry have turned into opportunities to be present and fully committed to what I’m doing.
One of the best things about this trip was a sense of peace that I hadn’t felt in years. I used to think that peace was something external, something you could only find if your circumstances were perfect. But now I understand that no matter what is going on around me, peace is something I can cultivate within myself. These are the moments when I choose to stop, breathe, and connect with the present. It’s the gratitude I feel for just being alive and for the opportunity to experience life in all its chaos and beauty.
Looking back, I hardly know who I was before. That version of me was always chasing, always striving, looking for happiness somewhere. But now I understand. Happiness isn’t something you can find. It is created moment by moment through gratitude and mindfulness.
And that’s the biggest gift I’ve given myself. It’s the ability to live your life to the fullest and embrace each day not as something to be conquered or endured, but as a series of moments to be savored. It’s not always easy and some days I find myself falling back into old patterns, but now I have the tools to reclaim myself and reconnect with what really matters.
It wasn’t a perfect trip. There are still days when I get caught up in the daily grind, forget to stop, and feel that familiar feeling of overwhelm creep up on me. But now I have the tools to ground myself. I feel grateful. I have mindfulness. And there is the awareness that no matter what is going on around you, you can always find a moment of peace within yourself.
Gratitude and mindfulness have not only changed my life; They gave me life back. And for that, I will always be grateful.
About Daniel
Daniel has always believed that the key to happiness and success lies within us. Understanding yourself on a deeper level provides valuable insight and creates a safe and joyful space in which to grow. This belief inspired her to create my blog, Humbled Pages and Digital Gratitude Journal. It’s not just a writing tool, it’s a companion on your journey to self-discovery. I hope she finally finds you.
