This Thanksgiving, Grab a Jar and Change Your Year

"I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual."  

Henry David Thoreau

We're about to pause for a day to acknowledge our blessings. But let’s be honest: by the beginning of next week, most of us will have forgotten the holiday feeling entirely.

So, I’m issuing a 2025 Thanksgiving Day Challenge – moving forward, let’s make every day a day to be grateful! Wherever you are this Thanksgiving Day, why not start a Gratitude Jar or Box?

Here are 10 reasons why:

1.  The timing is perfect -when motivation is high and the spirit of thankfulness is in the air.

2.  Creates a family tradition – get everyone involved, even young children! It will strengthen family bonds and help children learn about Gratitude.

3.  Scientifically proven benefits - Research shows a daily gratitude practice reduces stress, encourages mindfulness, strengthens relationships, sparks joy, and promotes overall well-being.

4.  Documents your blessings throughout the holiday season.

5.  Requires no special skills or exorbitant cost.

6.  Provides a tangible progress marker –visible proof of life's abundance.

7.  Captures fleeting moments before they disappear forever.

8.  Counters post-holiday blues - When 2026 arrives and the festive spirit fades, your gratitude notes remind you of what really matters.

9.   Shifts perspective during hardship - gratitude practice builds resilience and hope.

10.  Makes the next Thanksgiving extraordinary. Imagine sharing notes together in 2026—creating an incredibly moving tradition that deepens appreciation for family and the previous year’s blessings.

I'm coming up on my 30th anniversary of practicing grateful living. I've studied the health benefits of gratitude for 10 years. I've witnessed its transformative power, and here's one thing I know for sure: the more grateful you are, the more you have to be grateful for.

Are you ready to train yourself to notice – really notice - the good that shows up in your life?

The small change ABC-123 Strategy can get you started:

Acknowledge the desire to begin a daily Gratitude practice.

Believe that you have what it takes to make this small change.

Commit to taking 3 actionable steps to create a Gratitude Jar or Box.

1.  Choose Your Container. A jar, a shoe box, or an empty coffee canister will do - just be sure it’s large enough to hold lots of notes. Decoration is optional, but do make it yours - personalizing your jar makes it feel more meaningful and increases your commitment to the practice.

2.  Prepare Your Paper. Cut slips of paper into small pieces and keep them near your container, along with a pen.

3.  Make Your First Entry on Thanksgiving Day! Don't overthink it - just a few words or a sentence that captures what you’re thankful for. Date each entry. Place the container in a visible place where you'll see it daily and decide when you'll add your entry. Whether it’s first thing in the morning or right before bed, don’t miss a day!

You get to choose when to read through your notes - maybe next Thanksgiving, or on a day when you really need a boost. The main thing is to grab any container that works and tap into universal abundance by writing your first Gratitude note today.

Give thanks each day; Be Well!

Need help starting a Gratitude practice? Contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.

For additional tips, subscribe to my small change Weekly Wellness Tips at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/contact-us.