One of the things I learnt last year and I’m definitely carrying into 2026 is gratitude. And don’t get me wrong, I know what gratitude is. But there’s a deeper meaning to it, a side of gratitude I had not fully understood before: what it really entails and what it does to your mind. I discovered this deeper layer through Shera Mugo’s Gratitude Sunday series, where she highlights the things she’s grateful for each week. Watching her, I realized gratitude isn’t just a feeling or a word we throw around. It’s a practice. A way of noticing the ordinary moments and small wins we usually let slip by.
Let me take you back a bit. There’s an episode in SpongeBob called The Attitude of Gratitude. It has a very catchy song that I enjoy. After starting my own gratitude practice, I finally understood it. The part about “a whole new attitude” and “a lifetime subscription to gratitude” suddenly made sense. It was not just a fun kids' show song; it was a reminder that gratitude is something you actively choose, a mindset that shapes how you move through life, even when things aren’t perfect. I realized that living with an attitude of gratitude means noticing the small wins, the quiet moments, the ordinary things that actually hold you steady.
For me, gratitude became intentional. I started my own weekly sessions, sometimes daily, while journaling, sometimes at the end of the week, where I sit down and write everything I’m grateful for. At first, it felt small. But slowly, it started to change how I experienced life. Moments I would have overlooked suddenly mattered. Conversations I thought were ordinary, laughter, peace I hadn’t noticed, all of it began to feel weighty, meaningful.
What surprised me most is how gratitude reshapes your perspective without you realizing it. Life does not suddenly become perfect. Challenges do not magically disappear. But gratitude gives you a lens to see what’s already working, what’s already good, and what’s holding you steady even when everything else feels messy. It’s a quiet reminder that you’re not just surviving. You’re noticing, appreciating, and growing.
Gratitude doesn’t have to be big. Sometimes it’s the small things: a text from a friend, clarity after a confusing day, a moment of stillness. Sometimes it’s relief. Sometimes it’s laughter. Sometimes it’s just enough strength to get through. And when you write it down, when you acknowledge it, it becomes real. Proof that good things exist, even when life feels heavy.
Over time, these sessions became grounding. On weeks when life felt overwhelming, gratitude reminded me that not everything was falling apart. It didn’t erase the hard parts, but it balanced the story. It reminded me to slow down, notice, and acknowledge life as it is messy, imperfect, and still full of moments worth holding onto.
So as I step into 2026, I’m carrying this practice with me. A reminder that even in the chaos, even when I feel small or stuck, there are things to be grateful for. Things that remind me I’m alive, learning, and becoming.
Gratitude isn’t just a word. It’s a lens. A practice. A small act that changes your mind, your mood, and eventually, your life. And for me, it’s one habit I won’t be leaving behind this year.
If you need a place to start, I’ll link one of Shera Mugo’s Gratitude Sunday videos here. They’re simple and grounding. Gratitude Sunday's
"Gratitude turns what we have into enough." - Anonymous -
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