It's Okay if Gratitude Doesn't Feel Natural Right Now

Some days, gratitude feels easy. Other days, it feels like trying to read fine print in the dark. And if you’re in one of those darker stretches right now, I want to say something simple: there’s nothing wrong with you.

I’ve had seasons when gratitude felt out of reach. When people would remind me to “focus on the good,” and all I could think was, I can’t see anything right now. Not because I didn’t care. Not because I wasn’t trying. But because life was heavy, and my emotional bandwidth was shot.

What I’ve learned—slowly, and mostly the hard way—is that gratitude doesn’t always show up as a list of things to be thankful for. Sometimes it’s just one quiet, steady thing in your day. A breath you didn’t realize you were holding. A familiar scent. The dog leaning into your leg. A moment where your shoulders relax without asking permission.

Those tiny moments count. In tough seasons, they may be all you have—and they’re enough.

If you’re struggling to feel thankful right now, you’re not alone. You don’t owe anyone a bright side. You’re allowed to be human. You’re allowed to take your time. And if all you notice today is one small thing that keeps you grounded, that’s a win.

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