The Real Gratitude

Every Thanksgiving, we’re told to make a list — blessings, wins, things we’re “supposed” to be grateful for.

But let’s be real: most of those lists are surface-level.
Pretty. Polished. Safe.

This year, I’m not interested in the performative version of gratitude.
I’m interested in the kind you 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. The kind forged in the moments nobody saw.
The gratitude that came from fighting your way out of something you didn’t think you’d survive.
The gratitude you felt the day you realized you’d outgrown people who preferred a smaller version of you.
The gratitude that only shows up after you’ve done the inner work, after the tears, after the truth-telling, after the courage.

Because here’s the reality:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤.
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭.
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

This isn’t the year to pretend everything was pretty. This is the year to acknowledge how hard you fought — and who you became because of it.

So instead of asking, “What am I grateful for?” Ask something deeper:
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫?

Maybe it’s resilience.
Maybe it’s the courage to finally say no.
Maybe it’s the strength to walk away from what drained you.
Maybe it’s the self-respect that comes from choosing your own voice over someone else’s expectations.

Whatever it is, claim it.
Name it.
Own it.

That’s the real gratitude — the kind nobody can take from you.