Gratefulness is much more than simply saying “thank you.” It can be a transformative life orientation. Beginning to practice gratitude is supported by a number of simple practices.

One of the most important is simply noticing and appreciating the gifts of others. We can begin our day with the intention of noticing the goodness and the gifts throughout our day. So many people support our lives and make our lives better through their daily work—the people who clean public restrooms, the people who stock the shelves in the grocery and who help us check out, the person who delivers our mail, the people in various settings who plan events and programs that help us grow—and so many more. Certainly, there are disappointments and even injustice, but our ability to address these is transformed if we are also attentive to the seemingly small gifts in our day.

Letting others know that we appreciate their efforts is another way. Verbally acknowledging their hospitality, or creativity, or attention to detail, or faithfulness heals our environments which are so often critical and hostile. Writing a simple note (a lost art) to someone we appreciate is another important spiritual practice.

We’re all aware of gratitude journals. Taking some time each day to reflect on and write down the times of inspiration, of compassion, of surprise, and of goodness, helps us to sink our life orientation much more deeply into the goodness of others. And this awareness of gratitude should also extend to ourselves. It is not prideful to notice when we have used our gifts well to support the life of the community. In fact, noticing the growth in ourselves can deepen our appreciation for all the graces in our life that help us to heal.