What does gratitude mean to you?

We’ll begin this month of thankfulness with an exploration of what gratitude means to you. Maybe start with a Dictionary definition, but then take some time to write about what gratitude means to you, personally.

Why are you participating in this 30-day journaling challenge? What do you hope to learn or achieve by spending an entire month focused on the things you’re thankful for? Do you already have a gratitude practice – if so, how has that changed your mindset or view of the world around you?

I am grateful for _____.

Today’s journaling assignment is not exactly journaling. I’d like you to make a BIG LIST of all the things in your life that you are grateful for. We’ll explore different areas of this list throughout the month, but first, you need to do a massive brain dump and just write down everything you can think of that brings gratitude.

Don’t limit yourself to the “usual” stuff. Yes, write down family members and individual friends (name each person). You’ll also likely go with the basic necessities of life – job, food, shelter, transportation, health, etc.

But don’t forget the little things that often get overlooked. Things like sunshine on a summer day; the crispy sound of leaves crunching under your feet as you take an autumn walk; hugs from grandkids or best friends; chocolate cake and a tall glass of icy cold milk; the way your dog greets you when you come home from a quick run to the grocery store.

Set a timer for 20 minutes and write until the timer expires. You can go longer if you want to, but don’t go shorter. Even if you run out of things to write down, use the full 20 minutes to reflect on all the things in your life that you love and are thankful for.

What made you smile today?

This prompt is a good one to use if you want to do a daily gratitude journal with the same prompt each day. Especially if you’re going to do your gratitude journaling at the end of the day.

Today I’d like you to pay attention to the things that are happening around you throughout the day. What makes you smile? Not just putting a smile on your face… but what makes your heart happy? What feeds your soul and gives you the warm and fuzzy feeling of being loved and grateful?

Your journaling entry today could be a simple as a single sentence or you could write a long entry that explores the thing you remember about today and why it means so much to you.

What, in nature, are you grateful for?

Is there something in particular that you love about nature? What’s the first thing that comes to mind with this prompt? Take a few minutes and write about what you enjoy about nature.

Be specific and descriptive. If you love autumn, then write about exactly what you love about that season. Is it the cooler temperatures because you like “sweater weather?” Or maybe you like the way the trees change color – which trees are your favorite, which color? Maybe it’s hayrides and bonfires or cider mills and fresh hot donuts generously sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

What song inspires gratitude in you?

Music has such a powerful way of putting you in a certain mood or bringing back a specific memory. Is there a certain song that fills your heart with gratitude?

Music is often thought of as a foundational experience – something that gives structure and meaning to everyday occurrences. Often lyrics can express our emotions when we can’t find the right words to speak how we are feeling.

Is there a song that comes to mind immediately with this question? If so, write it down …. copy the lyrics of the song into your journal. Then write about why this song, in particular, means so much to you and why it brings about those feelings of gratitude.

If you can’t think of a song, now is the time to go hunting for one. Google is your friend for this challenge. Did you know that there’s a song that was written because the songwriter was inspired by a “gratitude challenge?” It’s called Grateful and since discovering it, the catchy melody keeps playing in my head. Plus, the video is awesome too!

https://youtu.be/sO2o98Zpzg8

What modern conveniences are you thankful for?

Think of something you use every day without even thinking about the fact that 150 years ago, they probably didn’t have such a thing. What do you take for granted? What do you rely on, and if it were to disappear, you’d be lost without it.

Your smartphone? Television with Netflix? Spotify? A computer? Running water? Hot showers? Electricity? A car or public transportation? Microwave popcorn?

What’s the first thing that came to mind? Explore that initial thought. But also what is the thing that came to mind after you gave it a bit more thought? Write about what makes you thankful for that thing and what life might be like if you didn’t have it.

What have you survived or overcome?

The hardest time to be grateful is when you’re in the middle of a very difficult time. It’s not until you’re beyond the struggle that you’re able to look back and realize how grateful you are that you overcame it.

Take some time today to think about a struggle, crisis, or other difficult time in your life and reflect on how you survived that time. What lessons did you learn? How did that change or shape your life going forward? What are the things you are most grateful for – whether it is a lesson you learned after, or simply that you survived it?

What beautiful thing did you see today?

Rush, rush, rush. Hurry, hurry, hurry. It’s normal to race through the day without taking a single moment to stop and look around at the world.

When was the last time you looked out the window and watched the birds play in the trees? Or watched how the sun plays with the shadows?

Life isn’t going to stop if we forget to pay attention to the birds or sunshine. But we don’t want to stop noticing the little things about the ones we love. What color shirt did your spouse wear to work today – did  you even make eye contact with them this morning? What color was the drawing your child brought home from school yesterday?

Take a moment to think about what you’ve already encountered today that you found beautiful. If nothing comes to mind, then it’s time to put your pen down and go outside for a bit of exploring. Look around and what do you notice? What’s beautiful? What feeds your soul? What makes you thankful?

Write about why that beautiful thing brings gratitude into your life. How does it make you feel?

What childhood memory are you most grateful for?

I had a great childhood and am so thankful for being blessed with a family who loves, laughs, and plays together. I have many amazing childhood memories.

One that I’m most grateful for is the after-dinner walks across town, as a family, to go visit my grandparents for an hour before walking back home. These walks were especially fun in the fall when the sounds of leaves were crunching under our feet.

Think about the childhood memories you’re most grateful for and describe one that is most vivid for you. What time of year was it? Where were you, and who were you with? How old were you? What were you wearing and how were you feeling? Thinking of the details and recording them will help you recall them again when that memory might normally have faded.

Capturing childhood memories in your journal is an important part of examining your entire life to find little pockets of gratitude that you can hold dear.

Who were you able to help today?

Being thankful goes hand in hand with being generous with our time and talents. Watch out for where you might be able to help someone in a fun and unexpected way today. Who needs your help?

Write about the person you helped today. Do you know this person or was it a stranger? What did you do? How did it make you feel? How can you do more of these types of things in the future?

What color are you grateful for?

Yep, this is a strange one… but I’m curious about what your answer will be. Is there a color that speaks to your soul? Something that makes you happy or brings specific memories?

This time of the year is known for having such rich colors as the trees change color. Our world is filled with deep reds, vibrant yellows and oranges, and deep rich greens and browns. Earth tones are some of my favorite.

But when I think of my favorite places in the world, it brings about thoughts of blues, turquoise, sea greens, and warm whites that you would find at the seashore. These colors are calming for me and make me so thankful for the beauty of the beach.

Take time today to write about the color you’re grateful for. And also consider collecting scraps of paper or photos or magazine pages with that color and adding those to your journaling pages.

What technology do you appreciate the most?

With a room full of nerds… I’m sure there are a few geeks among us, too. Yep, that’d be me. I love everything there is about being a nerd (digging deep into a topic and learning everything I can about it, i.e. stationery). But give me a gadget and I instantly turn into a geek who loves everything electronic and techy.

I think the obvious answer to this question will likely be our smartphones since they tend to be a constant companion. Have you ever left your house without your phone and you go through the entire day feeling like you forgot to wear pants?

But beyond that computer in our pockets… what other technology do you appreciate? Is it vintage tech like transistor radios or maybe something bigger like robotic surgical equipment?

Think about all the ways that technology touches our lives every day and write about what you appreciate about it. Yes, sometimes tech is frustrating and we’d love to throw the computer out the window, but what would life be like without it?

Which of your five senses are you most thankful for?

Of your five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell – which are you most thankful for? Which one would you be most devastated about if you lost?

So, I know we’ve got a few Nerds here who have either lost one of their senses, or were born without it. I want to honor you today and recognize that this journaling prompt might take a different turn for you. Those of us who enjoy all five often take for them for granted. 

Or maybe you’re the lucky one… I mean, my friend Beth, who doesn’t have a sense of smell, has never had to experience the aroma of a teenage boy’s bedroom or freshly sprayed skunk. Whew!

Today, journal about the sense to are most grateful for. What benefits do you enjoy most about it? Give examples of how you’ve used it today. Will you be more conscious of your senses now that you’ve given it some deep thought today?

What positive changes have you made in the past year?

We’re in the middle of November and many of us are already thinking about what planner or notebook we’ll be using in the New Year. But before we dive too deeply into planning for next year, let’s take a moment to think about how we’ve changed in the past year.

Did you set a goal or establish a habit at the start of this year? How did you do? What types of positive changes have you been able to make in the past 10.5 months that you’ll carry with you into next year?

So often we work hard to make these big changes in our lives (little changes count too!) but we don’t stop to show gratitude about those changes. Pat yourself on the back, give yourself a standing ovation, treat yourself to a celebration … you’ve done some amazing things this year!

Take some time today to journal about the positive changes you’ve made this year and why you’re thankful for your ability to make changes that help you to improve your life.

Journal about your gratitude toward family.

Whether you journal about family members you were born with or those you’ve chosen, think about why you’re thankful that they’re part of your life. 

My parents just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and I was going to take them out for nice dinner to celebrate. But when I called, they answered the phone from Ikea, where they were enjoying meatballs and mac and cheese after a strenuous morning of shopping. Oh, how I love them for their quirkiness and spontaneity. I’ll still take them out for dinner … if they ever sit still for 5 minutes so we can schedule something.

Journal about your gratitude toward your friends.

Yesterday we journaled about our gratitude toward family … so today, let’s honor our friend circle.

Start by making a list of all the friends who come to mind when you first heard this prompt. Don’t worry about leaving some people out if you don’t remember their name right away … but start with a quick list. 

Then journal about about what friendship means to you and why you’re thankful for having friends in your life.

Next, pick one or two people from the big list to go deeper into what that person means to you and why you’re thankful for them.

This is also a great time to grab a notecard or some pretty stationery and jot a note to your friend telling them what they mean to you … drop in it in the mail for them. What a lovely surprise a handwritten note will be for them.

Journal about what you love about yourself.

For the past two days, we’ve journaled about what we’re thankful for with family members and friends. It’s time to look inward and reflect on what you love about yourself.

Don’t be shy. Go ahead and gush over how amazing you are. Put it all down on paper and record it for future generations to read.

What are you grateful for? Your talents and skills, your decisions, your dedication to achieving goals? Think about what others might say about you and how they view you as a friend or loved one… if you’re brave enough, go ask them what they are most thankful for about you. Ramble on for as long as you can.

Then when you’re done, go back to the beginning of your journal entry and read it out loud. Hearing nice things said about you, in your own voice, is the best way to start truly appreciating how awesome you are.

What season are you grateful for?

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall — which season are you most thankful for? Is there something special about that season that makes it better than others? 

Think about the special routines or rituals that you enjoy during that season? Decorating the house or swapping out your wardrobe. Or planning for new year goals or summers at the cabin.

Or… maybe you want to take this journaling prompt in a completely different direction and define “season” in some other way. For instance, we all go through seasons of our lives. Maybe you’re in the young parent season and your kiddos are busy with dance recitals and soccer practice, or it’s retirement season for you and you’re more focused on travel or building a cozy, quiet life. Or maybe you’re in your Swiftie Era and you’re thinking about becoming a groupie at all her concerts. 

Journal about what season you’re most grateful for and why.

What memory are you thankful for?

Memory is a tricky thing. There are good memories of happy times, special occasions, and precious moments with loved ones. And then there are all those tough memories that lurk around corners, that you’d rather forget and bury deep in the back of your mind so it doesn’t poke at you. Those tough memories might actually be the ones you’re most thankful for because of the lessons you learned.

Think about the memories you hold dear and like to think about from time to time. These are the memories we write down, take photos of and share others who were part of the experience.

But when you think about which memory you are thankful for, I wonder which type of memory you’d choose. A memory that is not so great but you’re thankful for the experience. Or a memory that’s wonderful and brings joy to your heart.

Journal about the details of that memory and then explore why you selected that memory to write about today. How has that event in time changed your life or altered your mindset?

What parts of your “job” are you thankful for?

Let’s talk about jobs today. This might be a career that brings in a paycheck or a business you own to earn money for your family. But some people might not hold a traditional job and instead the work they do pays them in love, hugs, and kisses. 

Actually… the word “job” can be defined in so many different ways. What is your definition? First, journal about what that “job” is. How are you defining the word for your life? 

Then, write about what you’re thankful for related to that “job”. Is it the money or some other benefit you enjoy most? Or maybe it’s people who are there with you day in and day out? Or is it the work itself that fulfills you?

What skill are you thankful for?

Everyone is good at something. The skills we develop along the way are often a big jumbled mess of talent, experience, knacks, character traits and unique abilities …. All assembled into the amazing human that you become over time. 

Isn’t it wonderful that we’re all different and if we lack skill in one area of our lives that we can lean on someone else for help who has the skills we don’t have?

Today I want you to make a big list of all your “skills” – anything you’re good at or know how to do. 

Think about the things that people always come to you for. Whether it’s life advice, or fixing stuff, or just asking to borrow a pen because you’ve got the best pens of anyone they know! Do you have the best apple pie around? Are you extremely patient and kind toward strangers? Can you jump rope longer than all the neighborhood kids? Can you fix computers, cars, or plumbing… or can you sew a beautiful quilt? 

Which of those skills are you most thankful for? Journal about that today. Pat yourself on the back for how awesome you are!

What freedoms are you grateful for?

What’s the first thing that comes to mind for this prompt? For me, it’s about the freedom I enjoy as an American. But when I give it a bit deeper thought, I think about the freedoms I have in my life because of the work I’ve put in to get where I am.

I spent 22 years in a career that I enjoyed and the experiences of that job taught me how to be an successful business owner, artist, and author. I own my home, my family lives nearby, I have friends that I love and cheer me on, I have clients that love the work I do for them, I’m free to worship at the church of my choice and speak my mind on topics that matter. I’m truly living the American dream. 

Think about what “freedom” means to you and spend time exploring all the ways that you’re able to express yourself or do activities that others might not be able to do.

What difficult parts of your life contain hidden blessings?

Every cloud has a silver lining. Most of the time it’s hard to see that silver lining or figure out what the “positive” is when it’s hidden inside a difficult thing.

Today, I want you to think about a hard time in your life, whether it’s in the past or happening right now – and try to find the hidden blessings. Even if it’s something small and even if it’s hard to find… it’s worth trying to find it. 

I love that Mister Rogers quote about “look for the helpers.” When you see something bad happening, look for the people who are there to help. Think about it in the context of your difficult situation. What is the good thing that’s happening even though a bad thing surrounds you?

Describe a piece of positive news you’ve heard recently.

I love good news! In fact, when people say “I have good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?” I always always always say… “tell me the bad first so you can cheer me up with the good.”

What piece of news have you heard recently that brought light and happiness to your life?

Good news is like light. Bad news is like darkness. Light overcomes darkness every single time. And I love hearing when something great has happened for someone else in my life. It’s a time to celebrate together and spread the happy around.

Go tell people some good news today. Spread some happiness and joy … Pay attention to their reaction then journal about it.

What food are you most grateful for?

Pizza! Wait….. no, it’s lemon meringue pie. Yes, definitely the pie. Mmm… but pizza is really good and I’m super thankful to whoever invented it. Can I say both?

Oops! I got a little sidetracked there. So, let’s journal about food today. Is there something specific that you’re thankful for? Go ahead… have fun with this one!

What is the biggest gift in your life right now?

As we approach the holiday season, it’s normal to have gift-giving on our minds. It’s easy to get bogged down in the physical gifts that we’ll give and receive. So, before things get too hectic in a few weeks, take a few minutes today to reflect on the gifts you’ve been given that you’re incredibly thankful for.

Don’t just focus on physical gifts wrapped up in paper and ribbon. Think about gifts that aren’t as tangible.

• The gift of friendship.
• The gift of good health.
• The gift of financial stability.
• The gift of children.
• The gift of love.

What types of gifts are you most grateful for in your life right now?

Name something in your house that you truly treasure.

I’m sure your first and most obvious answer is going to be “family!” … and a close second is going to be “pets!”. Feel free to journal about those today, but I’d like you to look a bit deeper than that.

Look around at what surrounds you. Think about the items in your house that you interact with every day. Or maybe the items that you only pull out of storage once or twice a year. If your house were on first, what’s the one thing you’d want to save?

Spend some time thinking about a thing in your house that you treasure the most and write about the story of that item. What’s the meaning behind that gratefulness? What’s the history or symbolism?

I find it easy to be grateful for ______.

Today’s focus is on the things that make gratitude feel natural and effortless. Think about what comes to mind right away when you consider what you’re grateful for. It could be a person, an experience, a simple pleasure, or even a challenge that helped you grow. Try to go beyond just naming it—why does this bring you such a feeling of thankfulness? What specific qualities or memories make this so meaningful to you?

As you journal, take a moment to explore why this particular thing brings a sense of gratitude. How does it add value or joy to your life? Has it impacted you in ways that were unexpected or has it been a steady presence that you might even overlook sometimes?

Once you’ve taken a moment to reflect, you’re welcome to share your thoughts with the group. Your reflections may just inspire someone else to see something new in their own gratitude journey.

I find it difficult to be grateful for _____.

Sometimes, gratitude doesn’t come easily for everything in our lives. Today, try reflecting on something that you struggle to appreciate. Maybe it’s a situation, a responsibility, or even a characteristic within yourself or others. Why do you find it difficult to feel gratitude here? Are there specific feelings or memories tied to it that make gratitude feel out of reach?

As you journal, consider if there’s any way this challenging aspect might have impacted you positively, even if indirectly. Has it prompted personal growth, taught you something valuable, or offered a new perspective? Remember, this isn’t about forcing yourself to feel grateful—it’s about exploring the full scope of your experience with honesty and compassion.

When you’re ready, share your thoughts with the group if you feel comfortable. This journey into challenging gratitude might open the door to new insights for you and others alike.

Which stationery supply are you most grateful for?

Of course, this wouldn’t be a respectable Stationery Nerd Thankful November challenge if we didn’t take time to be grateful for stationery, right?

Are there specific stationery supplies that make your life easier? Something you’re thankful for? A supply that you appreciate more and more every time you use it? Or maybe you’re thankful that you’re able to own certain types of supplies.

Write about your love of a single stationery supply that you feel you’ve been blessed to own.