Gratitude: Your November Superpower!

Well, we are in the second to last month of 2025!

Where has the time gone? How has your year been?

There have been so many life events globally, nationally, and within our own city this year. It is hard to believe we have made it to November.

In November, the days continue to shorten, the air feels crisper, and many of us have started to prepare for family gatherings, meals, and the rituals that close out the year. At the same time, our calendars are filled to the brim with work deadlines, school events, and the endless errands of daily life. Amazingly, in the middle of all our prepping, planning, doing, and living, the month of November continues to timely provide us with a much-needed release – a space for gratitude.

Gratitude is more than a polite “thank you.” It is a mood enhancer, a relationship strengthener, a stress reducer, and a physical health booster – making it one of the simplest, yet most powerful ways to improve overall well-being. And the best part? It’s something anyone can practice.

For children, gratitude can begin with noticing the little things like a kind word from a teacher, a favorite story before bedtime, or a smile from a neighbor.

For teenagers and young adults, it might mean keeping a journal, reflecting on meaningful moments, or expressing thanks to friends and mentors. Adults can practice gratitude by pausing to appreciate small victories during the day like a delicious meal, a phone call with a loved one, or a quiet moment of reflection. For elders, gratitude often blooms in storytelling, providing lessons learned, or sharing cherished traditions and memories of holidays past.

Finding ways to be grateful and express our gratitude to others is as necessary a part of being human as eating, drinking, or breathing. Think of gratitude as brain food for the soul. Science has proven that noticing what we appreciate in other people and saying thank you doesn’t just make others feel good – it actually boosts our own happiness, lowers stress, and even gives our health a little extra spark. Our brains light up when we practice it, and people who do it regularly bounce back faster from life’s bumps.

There are lots of simple ways to bring gratitude into daily life. Some of my favorites are 1) keeping a jar or notebook and jotting down one thing you’re thankful for each day; 2) taking short walks and really noticing the surrounding environment; 3) pausing during meals, bedtime, or morning routines to share one highlight of the day with your family or friends; 4) extending gratitude outward through acts of giving; and don’t forget, 5) partaking in the storytelling from the older generations as they share their memories.

The holiday season is often filled with both joy and stress. Deadlines, shopping lists, family logistics, and expectations can feel overwhelming. Gratitude doesn’t erase these challenges, but it shifts perspective – helping us notice what is present rather than fixating on what is missing.

By making time for gratitude, we connect more deeply with our communities, our loved ones, and ourselves.

Whether you are teaching a child to say their first “thank you,” calling someone far away, or sitting quietly with a loved one, gratitude is a practice that can enrich every stage of life. This November, consider making it a daily habit – a gift that costs nothing, but yields lasting rewards.

God Bless!

By Cheryl Thode