I don’t remember when we actually crossed the threshold from May-is-a-normal-month to May-is-as-crazy-busy-as-December.  All I know is that the struggle is real.  

In an effort to distribute the heavy load of May, it seems like the pace of April has also gradually increased, akin to how Black Friday now spans closer to a month than a single day in November.  

So maybe it’s no coincidence that gratitude is what came to mind when I was pondering about what simple gift I should focus on for May. The Thanksgiving holiday and some built-in traditions around it tend to keep gratitude top of mind in November. Six months later, with a full calendar and a to-do list seemingly longer than the fabled Rapunzel’s hair, I am due for a reset.  

Right out of the gate yesterday, May 1 did not go according to plan.  As things went sideways, I had to continually fight to rewrite the complaining narrative that came to my mind so naturally. 

But as I was leaving my daughter’s room last night, after saying goodnight significantly later than I would consider optimal, she called out a sincere thank you that communicated to me that she felt loved.  It reminded me that it matters to both give and receive kind words, even–or especially–when we aren’t doing as well as we’d like. In return, today I endeavored to thank her for her efforts to do her homework and chores, even if it wasn’t done quite the way I would like. 

It requires practice and intention to live in a place of gratitude, and although I am far from perfect at doing so, I know I am happier when I make the effort.

To that end, here are my simple ideas for giving the gift of gratitude this month. Most can be done on the fly, because I want it to feel more like a way of approaching the interactions I already have with people rather than one more thing to do.

• Sincerely thank each person that you live with for one way they make your life better.  If you live alone, thank a neighbor whom you appreciate. 
• Verbally thank a stranger for a kindness or service (e.g. holding open a door) as you are out and about.  
• Help a child write a thank you note to a teacher/coach. 
• Thank a colleague/mentor for a specific skill or insight you have learned from them. 
• Wave a “thank you” in traffic to a driver who lets you in. 
• Who is a source of inspiration or support for you in this particular stage of life?  Thank them for sharing their light or strength with you. 
• Pause to thank a teacher, military member, healthcare worker, first responder, service worker, construction worker, custodial worker, mail carrier, etc. as you encounter them in the course of duty.  
• Offer a prayer or spend a few minutes in meditation where you only express gratitude. 
• During a meal, express gratitude to whomever you are eating with.  If eating alone, text a thank you to someone who has been on your mind lately. 

And, hey–if you’re reading this, thank you for being here!

“Like a memory muscle is about practicing a motion so often the body ‘remembers’ the motion, faithfully practicing giving thanks strengthens a gratitude muscle, so your soul remembers what to do in crisis. 

“Exercise your gratitude muscle–to grow strong in joy.” 

Ann Voskamp

“”One Thousand Gifts“”