Big Three: A Lesson in Gratitude

I posted every week in 2025 about three things that made me grateful. I started my Big Three posts on a whim. I wasn’t even sure how long I would keep at it. I half expected the series to last after a month of two. If I had known that I was going to keep at it, I probably would’ve come up with a different headline.

However, I found something to appreciate through thick and thin.

I thought it would be challenging, but the ideas came to me all the time. I found things to be grateful strolling through the grocery aisle. I found other items for my gratitude journal waiting for work calls. They came out of the blue.

What started as a chore became a fun practice.

Here’s what I learned from the experience.

–Little things really are big things. A smile, laugh, or a thank you really go a long way.

–I found the practice increased the positivity around me and helped me an adopt a more optimistic outlook. It trained my brain to see the good things.

–I came away more resilient since I knew that after every knock down I would still be able to find something to lift me back up off the ground. And boy did I need that.

–Starting my day with a positive mindset made me more motivated to tackle my to-do list and take on new challenges.

My favorite blessing of the year: The Big Three: Good boy! and being grateful for pets everywhere a few months after our own dog had moved onto Doggy Heaven.

So what’s next with my Big Three column? I’m taking a break from publicly posting my weekly Big Three for now, but I have a feeling they’ll make a comeback one day. We’ll see.