Let’s get real about thankfulness. It’s not some Hallmark card fantasy.
Being thankful, grateful – it’s a way of life, a radical act of survival.
The Thanksgiving of Your Soul
Gratitude isn’t about counting your blessings like a goddamn accountant. It’s about recognizing the extraordinary in the ordinary—the shit that most people are too busy to notice.
The clothes on your back
The roof over your head
The fact that your alive
Your hair
The cup you use each morning for your coffee
The flowers or the birds that sing
The wind on your face
The vibrant colors of the world
Art or good music
Family: Blood vs. Belonging
Here’s a truth bomb: Family isn’t about shared DNA. It’s about shared souls.
The people who show up? Those are your real family. The ones who:
- Text you at 2 AM
- Call you on your bullshit
- Love you despite your worst moments
- Make an effort to touch base throughout the year, not just on the holidays
Blood is an accident.
Connection is a choice.
The Power of Almost and Actually
Most people don’t appreciate the power of what DIDN’T happen:
- The job you didn’t get (that would’ve crushed your spirit)
- The relationship that didn’t work (saving you years of misery and financial hardships)
- The risks you narrowly avoided
These non-events are your silent guardians. Think about how many of these things your thankful for not happening.
Action Items for the Gratitude Revolutionaries
- The Micro-Gratitude Challenge Every morning, write down:
- 3 tiny things you’re grateful for
- 1 thing that DIDN’T happen that could’ve been terrible
- 1 person who showed up for you this week
- The Chosen Family Audit
- List 5 people who are your REAL family
- Reach out. Tell them why they matter. No bullshit or flattery, just pure, raw appreciation
- The Perspective Reboot For one week:
- Replace complaints with observations
- Turn “this sucks” into “this is interesting”
- Treat every setback as a potential story, because bad times really do make for great stories.
- The Thanksgiving Ritual Create a personal gratitude ceremony:
- Not the traditional turkey fest that’s been forced down our throats. Celebrate your journey, your way. Do it without guilt or pressure from anybody. No one can tell you how to live.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Thankfulness
Gratitude isn’t positive thinking. It’s clear seeing.
You don’t need a specific day to be thankful.
You don’t need permission to appreciate your journey.
You don’t need anyone’s approval to celebrate your life.
Thanksgiving is not a date. It’s a state of mind.
Own it.
Live it.
Fuck yeah.
Joe DiAndrea 