Thanksgiving is often seen as the season of gratitude, but in reality, gratitude is a practice, not a moment. It’s something that deepens over time, especially when life hasn’t gone perfectly.
I’ve learned that firsthand. When I moved to Florida, I imagined peace and new beginnings. Instead, my first few months were full of challenges: caregiving for my mom, processing loss, and rebuilding life from the ground up. Gratitude didn’t come naturally at first. But journaling helped me find small pockets of appreciation even in the hardest seasons, coffee on the patio, my dogs snoring nearby, quiet evenings when the world finally slowed down.
This Thanksgiving week, I invite you to pause and reflect on your own small moments of good. You don’t need a perfect life to be grateful, you just need awareness.
Here are ten gratitude journal prompts to guide you through the week.
1. What’s something simple that brought you comfort this week?
Gratitude often hides in the ordinary, a familiar routine, a cozy meal, or a quiet moment. Noticing small comforts builds contentment over time. For me, it’s my morning coffee on the patio.
2. Who has shown you kindness recently, and how did it make you feel?
Write about a person who made you feel seen or supported. Gratitude grows stronger when it’s specific. For me, my best friend of 34 years is the one who is always there when I need her.
3. What have you overcome this year that you can appreciate yourself for?
This one’s about self-gratitude. Honor your resilience, the hard days you kept showing up anyway. I have overcome a lot this past year: moving 1100 miles to a new state, losing my mother, starting over completely.
4. What part of your daily routine do you now appreciate more than before?
When life changes, even familiar moments can feel sacred: your morning coffee, your drive to work, or time outside with your pets.
5. What is one challenge that taught you something valuable?
Gratitude and growth often share the same roots. Write about something hard that led to insight, strength, or clarity.
6. Who (or what) makes you feel grounded when life feels busy?
For me, it’s my dogs, the water, and my journal. They bring me back to the present when stress tries to take over.
7. What’s a recent moment that made you smile unexpectedly?
Joy doesn’t always announce itself, it slips in quietly. Capture those little sparks of happiness.
8. How has your definition of gratitude changed over time?
When I was younger, I thought gratitude was about being positive all the time. Now I know it’s about being present, even when things aren’t perfect (and let’s face it, life is never going to be perfect).
9. Who are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving, and why?
Go beyond names: describe what that person brings into your life and how they’ve shaped your year.
10. What does “enough” look like for you right now?
Gratitude thrives when we stop chasing more and start appreciating what already is.
Final Reflection
Gratitude doesn’t erase pain or struggle, but it helps balance it. It’s the gentle reminder that even in loss, there are still things worth holding onto.
So this Thanksgiving week, I’ll be journaling too, probably with a mug of coffee, a cozy blanket, and two dogs curled at my feet, remembering that gratitude isn’t found in big moments. It’s built in the quiet ones.
If you enjoy journaling, you might also like this blog post, 30 Journal Prompts for Women Starting Over.
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.
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