Just for today, I will be grateful

There are days when gratitude comes easily—when life feels light, things are flowing, and your heart is naturally open.

And then there are real days. Cold days. Heavy days. Stressful days. The kind of days where you’re doing your best just to get moving.

That’s why I love this phrase so much:

Just for today, I will be grateful.

Not forever. Not perfectly. Not “I’m grateful for everything that ever happened.”
Just… today.

Why gratitude works (even when life isn’t perfect)

Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about choosing what you focus on, especially when your nervous system wants to spiral into worry, urgency, or overwhelm.

Gratitude gently brings you back to center:

• It softens stress chemistry.

• It interrupts mental looping.

• It reminds your body that you are safe in this moment.

It’s a small shift—but it creates a different day.

My simplest ritual (at the start of each day)

One practice I’ve done for years is this:

When I wake up in the morning—before my feet even hit the ground—I name one thing I’m grateful for.

No journaling required. No fancy routine. No pressure.

Just one true thing.

Some mornings it’s big—my family, my health, the work I get to do.
Other mornings it’s tiny—warm blankets, a quiet house, a good pillow.

And on frigid mornings?
Heat.
Legit! Heat is a miracle when you live in an area where the air hurts your face.

That’s the point: gratitude doesn’t have to be grand to be powerful. Sometimes the smallest things are the most sacred—because they’re the things holding you up in real time.

Why I put gratitude sections in my journals

Gratitude changed my life enough that I built it directly into the journals I created—dedicated space to list what you’re grateful for each day.

Because repetition matters. Practice matters. And when life feels chaotic, a simple daily anchor is everything.

If you’ve ever thought, “I know gratitude is good, but I can’t stay consistent,” this is your permission to simplify.

A “Just for Today” gratitude prompt

If you want a quick way to begin (or restart), try this:

Just for today, I am grateful for...

• ---

That’s it.

You don’t need to feel ecstatic. You don’t need to force positivity.
You just need one honest thing.

In closing

Gratitude is not a performance. It’s a practice.

Just for today, I will be grateful—not because life is perfect, but because gratitude helps me meet life with steadier energy, softer edges, and a more open heart.

If you want to join me, start tomorrow morning— after the alarm goes off and before your feet hit the floor.

One breath.
One true thing.
One grateful moment.

You got this.  I believe in you.

And if you are looking for help starting a gratitude practice - contact me.  I can help.

Stay warm and stay safe through the storm, and those that are able to work remote tomorrow if you live in the northeast region of the US -- Be grateful for that!

Be well,
Mary-Anne