Gratitude: 237 Days and Counting – And Still Struggling (Sort Of)

Every morning for the past 237 days, I’ve started my day with my trusty 5 Second Journal. That’s 237 mornings of staring at a blank page, pen poised, determined to summon up the wonders of life. I imagined I’d be a gratitude guru by now, exuding positivity like some kind of sparkling, unshakable force of joy. Instead? Some mornings sound a little like this:

• I’m grateful for coffee. Again. Always coffee.

• Uhh… I guess my socks are comfy?

• What else? Trees. Trees are cool.

Yep, it’s been a journey. A magical, messy, very human journey.

The Magic (and Challenge) of Gratitude

Here’s the thing: gratitude is simple, but it’s not always easy. It’s like trying to spot fireflies in a field. Some days, the magic lights up everywhere—big, dazzling flashes of beauty and joy. Other days, you’re squinting into the dark, waving your net around, and muttering, “There’s gotta be one somewhere!”

For me, 237 days of practice hasn’t magically made gratitude flow like poetry. Some mornings, it feels repetitive, surface-level, or like I’m forcing myself to feel something profound when all I really want is another hour of sleep.

But here’s the twist: even when it feels hard, it’s still working.

Learning to Dig Deeper

On Day 175 (yes, I keep track), I realized I wasn’t getting specific enough. Writing “family” or “health” every day felt… flat. I needed to dig deeper, but how?

Enter the magic of small moments. Instead of trying to capture the grandeur of life, I started zooming in:

• Not just coffee, but the first sip that warms my soul after a chilly morning.

• Not just family, but the way my grandma always tries to feed me cookies when go visit, even though I am 41.

• Not just health, but the satisfying stretch after a long day of sitting at my desk.

These little details felt more alive, more real—and they gave me more to be grateful for.

Embracing the Struggle

Here’s a fun fact: struggling with gratitude doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human. Sometimes gratitude feels like a dazzling superpower; other times, it’s a whisper you have to lean in close to hear. Both are valid.

If you’re in the struggle phase, here are a few things that have helped me:

1. Gratitude Prompts:

When I’m stuck, I use questions like:

• What made me smile today?

• What’s something small I’d miss if it were gone?

• Who did something kind for me recently?

2. Focus on the Five Senses:

Gratitude isn’t just about big ideas. It’s in the smell of fresh bread, the sound of laughter, the softness of your favorite blanket.

3. Let It Be Imperfect:

Not every gratitude entry has to be a masterpiece. Some days, “I’m grateful for my comfy socks” is good enough.

A Little Everyday Magic

Somewhere around Day 200, I realized gratitude is less about the list itself and more about the magic it sprinkles throughout the day. Even on days when my journal entry feels uninspired, I find myself noticing tiny joys:

• The way the morning light streams through the window.

• The unexpected kindness of a stranger.

• The quiet satisfaction of finishing a good book.

And that’s the thing about gratitude—it’s not about perfectly capturing every moment of beauty. It’s about noticing. It’s about opening your heart to the tiny sparks of magic that are always around you, even on the messy, imperfect days.

Day 237 and Beyond

Will I ever be a gratitude guru? Probably not. But I don’t think that’s the point. The point is to keep showing up, to keep looking for the fireflies, and to trust that even when it feels hard, the magic is still there.

So here’s to the next 237 days—may they be full of coffee, comfy socks, and all the tiny joys that make life sparkle.

What about you? How do you practice gratitude when it feels hard? Share your magic—I’d love to hear it!

With love and light,

Leah