Expressing gratitude for large and small things

29 July 2025

Today marks the one-year anniversary of something I am immeasurably, almost inexpressibly thankful for: my husband’s heart transplant. While life-saving and life-changing, it was not an easy experience for either of us (particularly Barry!). I can’t tell you how happy I am that it’s in my rear-view mirror.

There are so many aspects of the experience to be grateful for. Now that a year has passed, it’s easy for me to think of the many things are thankful for. I’ll name just a few here:

the donor and his family
Barry’s incredibly talented doctors
the amazing hospital staff
the fact that we’d moved just a few blocks from the hospital just days before his hospitalization (which made it much easier on me)
our friends who supported both of us throughout the journey
his new, robust heart — he feels better than he has in years

We’re having a party today for those who helped and are looking forward to celebrating what feels like a miracle.

It’s easy for me to remember to be grateful for this gigantic thing. But it makes me reflect on the fact that there are always so many little things in our lives to be grateful for on a daily basis. I’m definitely a glass-half-full kind of person but I don’t always take the time to think about all I am grateful for.

On and off over the years, I’ve had a gratitude practice, like this one that I blogged about back in 2021.

Celebrating this important anniversary is making me want to rejuvenate a gratitude practice. I’m going to try to remember to write down one thing I’m grateful for in my Bullet Journal every day.

How about you? Could you develop a gratitude practice?

Tagged with: gratitude, habits