Grace Amid the Gloom: How Gratitude and Gloom can Co-Exist

Can you hold gratitude in your heart even when the day feels heavy?
I’ve been exploring that question since 1997.

My gratitude practice is simple:

1. Notice at least five things a day to be grateful for — and write them down in my journal.
2. Share gratitude freely — in words, notes, and quiet acts of kindness.

Over time, this practice has made me more positive, balanced, and resilient.
Yet, even with all those years of gratitude behind me, life still happens.

People I love get sick or struggle. Work slows down and I fret. Plans unravel. I stumble, make humbling mistakes, and feel the ache of the world’s heartbreak.

And still, I practice gratitude.
Not because everything is rosy and right — but because even in the hardest times, there’s always a glimmer of good. A laugh through tears. A friend’s comforting touch. A helping hand when I feel burdened. A song that lifts my spirits.

These Lessons That Keep Me Steady

Life will rise and fall — no practice can protect us from that.
Ups and downs are simply part of being human. We care, and we get hurt. We try our best, and sometimes it’s not enough. There is no magic formula, no immunity from pain.

But we get more of what we focus on.
Before gratitude, I was an expert at spotting flaws and naming what was wrong. Now, I look for the light inside the dark. The more I invite goodness in, the more it finds its way to me.

There’s always something to be grateful for — if you just look.
After nearly three decades of daily practice, I’ve filled journals upon journals — over 51,000 small blessings.

And what amazes me most?
The things that bring the deepest joy are often the simplest: Crocuses breaking through frozen earth.
Sunlight on a cool morning. A child’s laughter. The warmth of a friend’s hug.

Gratitude in the Grit

When I’m grouchy, gloomy, or grumpy — that’s when I most need to pause.
To breathe.
To ask, What can I be grateful for, right now?

Even in the mess, gratitude steadies me. It softens my heart, shifts my focus, and helps me remember that this too shall pass.

Gratitude doesn’t erase the darkness.
It lights a candle within it — a gentle, steady flame that helps me find my way back to balance, hope, and grace.

I’m deeply grateful to you for reading these reflections.
May you find your own small reasons to give thanks — and may they lift your spirit, even on the gloomiest days.

I'm grateful to you for reading my thoughts – and I encourage you to pause a moment daily and be grateful. And if you are interested in reading my previous work on gratitude, here are some blogs you might enjoy!

Five Ways to Give Thanks at Work

Four Mindfulness Practices Anyone Can Do

A Simple Daily Practice That Can Change Your Life

When 2 Minus 1 equals 4: The Paradox of Giving and Receiving

Gratitude: Food for the Soul

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