Three Thanksgiving-Gratitude Practices to Turn Hardship into Hope

As we approach Thanksgiving, many of us feel the pull of tradition, the pressure of perfection, the weight of what should be. For me—living with cerebral palsy, writing about the grief of losing my dad, resilience, purpose, and helping families and programs reframe limitations as opportunities—this season has a different invitation. It’s an invitation to pause, not just to give thanks for what’s easy, but to give thanks in the midst of what’s hard. To turn our mess into message.

Gratitude isn’t about ignoring loss or hardship. It’s about acknowledging the full story—our pain and our purpose—and leaning into practices that help transform what happened into how we live, speak, and serve going forward. For the families, neuro-diverse youth, program directors and educational administrators I work with, it’s less about one grand gesture and more about small, meaningful shifts.

Here are three gratitude practices you can integrate now, ahead of Thanksgiving, that align with the “I’M POSSIBLE” mindset—and help you (or your clients) translate thanks into transformation.

1. The “Five Small Things” Evening Reflection

Why it matters:
According to PositivePsychology.com, one of the core prompts in gratitude‐journaling studies is: “Think back over the past week and list five things you are grateful for.” Positive Psychology These aren’t huge milestones. They’re often the overlooked moments: the sun on your face, a kind comment, the sound of birds. For someone navigating disability, caregiving, program leadership or grief, this practice invites you to widen the lens of what counts.

How to do it:

• At the end of each day (or each week), take 5–10 minutes with a dedicated notebook, or digital note if that’s easier.

• Ask: “What five small (or large) things am I grateful for today/this week?”

• Don’t skip over the hard parts. If today was tough, include: “I’m grateful I showed up,” or “I’m grateful for the chance to rest.”

• Over time, you’ll build awareness of your resilience, your supports, and the often‐invisible threads of hope.

Another option:
Give your clients or those you serve a pre-formatted template with 5 blank lines and space for “Today was hard because… And I’m thankful for…” to normalize both struggle and gratitude.

2. Express It Out: Gratitude with a Behavioral Component

Why it matters:
Gratitude doesn’t only live inside your journal. The research highlights a key point: when journaling is paired with a real expression of thanks to someone else, the positive effects deepen. In one study: participants who expressed gratitude to a partner/friend reported higher communal strength than those who simply wrote about it. Positive Psychology For your clients—whether families, persons with disabilities, or day-program teams—this can create relational ripple effects.

How to do it:

• Choose one person this week—someone who has supported you, seen you, or simply been present.

• Write them a short note, send a message, say it in person: “I’m grateful for ___, because ___.”

• Reflect afterwards: How did it land with them? How did you feel after saying it?

• Consider building this into your Thanksgiving table conversation (e.g., “Who am I thankful for this year, and why?”).

3. Reframe the Mess: Gratitude for What You’ve Learned

Gratitude work doesn’t ignore life’s storms—it asks, “What did this teach me? How did this refine me? How can this become part of my message?”

In Closing:

This Thanksgiving season doesn’t have to be about “having it all together.”

Start small. Pick one of the three practices above. Try it this week. Then invite someone to join you.
If you’re a leader or facilitator: Bring one of these practices into your next staff meeting, client workshop, or classroom check-in.
If you’re an individual or family member: Start your journal now, or send that gratitude note today.
Let your mess become your message. Let thanksgiving lead not only to thanks, but to transformation.

“When we give voice to our thanks—even in the midst of what’s hard—we not only honor what has been, we empower what can yet become.”