The Gratitude Shift: How Embracing Small Moments Changed Everything

The Gratitude Shift: How Embracing Small Moments Changed Everything

Sometimes, we look at life and see all the challenges piling up. It can feel overwhelming, like every setback is another rock added to an already heavy load. I know that feeling well, and today, I want to share how I learned to lighten that load, not by avoiding the rocks, but by focusing on the bright moments between them. It all starts with gratitude.

Gratitude has always been a part of my mindset, even during the hardest times in my life. When I was battling Ulcerative Colitis, facing surgeries, and hearing that I had cancer, I focused on being thankful for another day on this earth. I was surviving, getting by, and trying to find strength to face each day.

My fitness journey began before I became really sick. It was during this time that I found a love of movement and established a rhythm of active living. I felt strong, energized, and connected to my body in a way that was transformative. But as my health continued to decline, it was beyond hard to watch that love of movement slip away. The stronger I had grown physically, the more difficult it was to accept my limitations. Yet, even as my body weakened, my gratitude remained. I held on to the smallest of wins—the simple act of waking up each day, the ability to take a deep breath, or a moment of sunlight on my face.

When my physical strength waned, I found that my spiritual growth took center stage. It was during the most difficult parts of my journey—leading up to my first ostomy surgery—that I learned to embrace gratitude on a deeper level. These small moments became my anchor to the life I wanted to live. One morning, I woke up, and instead of focusing on how much pain I was in, I looked at the sunrise through my hospital window. It was stunning. It was a moment of beauty that I could appreciate, even though everything else felt heavy. I started seeking out these moments—tiny glimpses of hope, small things I could be thankful for. And it changed me.

I began to keep a gratitude journal—nothing fancy, just a list at the end of each day. Some days, I was grateful for big things: my husband by my side, a great visit with my doctor, a milestone in my fitness journey. Other days, it was the small comforts: a warm cup of tea, a laugh with a friend, or just having a moment of peace. I started to notice that my mindset shifted. The more I paid attention to the good things, the more I realized they were all around me, even when life was still tough.

Gratitude didn't take away the pain or the struggles. I still had tough days, setbacks, and moments where it felt like too much. But gratitude gave me a new perspective—it helped me see beyond the struggle, to also appreciate the resilience, the lessons, and the moments of connection I might have missed otherwise. It helped me turn those stumbling blocks into stepping stones, to see that my journey wasn't just about enduring—it was also about growing and thriving.

If you're facing challenges, I encourage you to try it. Start with one thing a day that you're thankful for. It doesn't have to be big. It might be a smile from a stranger, the way your favorite song makes you feel, or the relief of putting your feet up after a long day. Those little things are your fuel. They remind you that there's still beauty and hope, even when life gets heavy.

The power within each of us grows when we take time to nurture it. Gratitude has been one of the most powerful tools for me in that process—it's a way to remind myself that my story, my struggle, and my triumphs are filled with moments worth celebrating. And those moments make all the difference.