The best ways to show gratitude this Thanksgiving are small and personal: give something to someone who needs it, write down what you're thankful for, share a meal, and tell the people you love what they mean to you. None of it needs a big budget. It only needs a little of your attention.
It’s that festive time of year again. The slight nip in the air, the aroma of wood-scented candles, the warmth of a pumpkin-spiced latte, and the crunch of fallen leaves tell us that fall has arrived. Nature puts on one of its finest displays, almost as if it is reminding us to prepare for the holidays ahead. And before you know it, we’ll be seated at a table saying grace with our families and friends, giving thanks for all that we’ve received, just before we dive into the roasted turkey.
Fall invites us into the spirit of gratitude and giving back. Thanksgiving is more than a yearly harvest tradition. It is a day to remember what we are thankful for, stay grounded, gather with people we love, and value one another a little more openly.
Why do we need gratitude more than ever?
We all move through seasons that test us. Some losses stay with us. Some people we love are far away. And still, we keep going. Doesn’t that remind us that there is something, however small, to be grateful for?
The trouble is, we seem wired to notice what's wrong first. Psychologists call it the negativity bias: we tend to pay more attention to bad news than good, a habit thought to have helped our ancestors stay alive. Although we may no longer be outrunning a cheetah, a missed promotion, a heartbreak or an argument can still put us back for weeks. It’s easier to spiral down with cynical thoughts than to go looking for the positives.
But it’s never too late to pay more attention to what is good in our lives. So why wait till Thanksgiving day when we could start today? Gratitude grounds us. In positive psychology research, gratitude is consistently linked with greater happiness, and it reminds us of the people and moments we tend to take for granted. Our simple guide to living a life of gratitude is a good place to start.
We’ve created a list of simple ways to give thanks this fall and make the gratitude last beyond one day. You’ll also see our Thanksgiving wallpapers throughout, small reminders to carry the spirit of gratitude with you.
Donate & Contribute
The holiday season can feel especially tender for people carrying loss or hardship. If you can, find one way to contribute to those in need.
- Donate clothes that you may no longer need, instead of throwing them away or selling them. Let go of things that you no longer use but that can be of great help to someone else. Collect old toys, clothes, shoes, home furnishings and books, and offer them to the Salvation Army, Goodwill or your nearest donation center.
- Consider volunteering at local organizations. Find your cause. It could be planting trees, cleaning up the beach or helping someone make their resume for a career opportunity: there are many ways to lend a helping hand.
- Donate to charities that you most relate to. Here is a great list to help you: the A-Z charity list. Even a small donation can make a big difference in someone’s life.
- Donate hair whenever you’re getting a haircut. Several organizations welcome hair donations for making wigs for people with cancer. It's an easy, non-monetary way to help someone in need. Here is what you need to know before donating your hair.
- Spare a few hours and visit a nearby elderly home, animal shelter or orphanage. Spending time with others, sharing their sorrows and joys, reminds us of the power of solidarity and fills our hearts.
Count Your Blessings
The hustle and bustle of everyday life can make us oblivious to the happiness hidden in the smaller things. Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the simplest ways back. In a well-known set of studies, people who regularly listed things they were grateful for reported better wellbeing on several measures than people who listed hassles, most clearly a lift in positive mood.
Start by taking a couple of minutes every morning or night to write down what you feel most grateful for. Sometimes we forget how much we have and how far we’ve come until we pause and look. They could be simple things like morning cuddles with your kids, or a supportive co-worker. If you'd like a structure, try one of these simple gratitude practices.
You can even help your children start a journal of their own. Writing or drawing in it each day is a gentle way for them to notice the good things in their days too.
On Thanksgiving Day, read back some of the blessings you’ve written down. They can spark real joy and help us truly give thanks. Stuck for ideas? Here are 100 simple pleasures of life that we all can feel grateful for.
Share a Meal with Someone
Food is not just a means of survival. It carries emotion, memory, and care. For as long as we've had tables, people have gathered around them to share meals and swap their stories.
This Thanksgiving, share a meal with someone in need. It could be a new neighbor, someone living away from their family, or someone who is struggling to make ends meet. Prepare a meal (even a simple one makes a difference) and offer it to them. It cuts down on leftovers and brightens someone else’s day. You could also help at a nearby soup kitchen on Thanksgiving day and share the festivities with people who need them most.
Spend Quality Time with Loved Ones
The love, warmth, and support of our friends and family play a big role in shaping us. Carve out time for those you love: revisit old memories with your siblings, catch up with an old friend, take a trip home and surprise your parents if you can. Be vocal about how much you value their support and admire their efforts.
Appreciate your partner for all that they do for you. Plan a staycation with your kids, look at old photos, go for bike rides, bake with them or make DIY turkey crafts. There are several ways to create fond memories with kids that they will cherish forever.
Appreciate Yourself
After all, this day is about giving thanks for everything we are grateful for, and that includes you. Give yourself some much-needed TLC by getting a massage, or sleeping in. While you plan the day making sure everybody’s plates are full, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back too. Spend some quality time with yourself doing what really makes you happy: paint, run, dance, or sleep!
Show yourself some love (not just through retail therapy) by centering your thoughts and meditating. You could also write a letter to yourself, listing everything you’ve impressed yourself with this year. Even when we are surrounded by people who love us, we still need to offer ourselves the care we deserve. That self-respect can deepen our relationships with those around us.
Appreciate Nature
Witnessing a sunset, hearing the sound of waves, digging toes through the warm sand, or the first snow: nature never ceases to amaze us. No matter how tough things get, time outdoors can leave us feeling restored. One large UK study found that people who spent at least two hours a week in nature were more likely to report good health and wellbeing.
As the seasons shift around Thanksgiving, don’t forget to notice the changing color of the leaves and the hint of winter in the air. Give thanks and reconnect by planting a tree, putting up a bird feeder or playing with the animals at a local shelter. Here are more ways to pause, reflect and reconnect with nature.
Tip Generously and Pay It Forward
Leaving a tip is a gesture of gratitude and a way of acknowledging the effort someone made for us. Random acts of kindness make someone’s day special. At a diner or restaurant, leave your server a larger tip and a thoughtful note of appreciation, or write them a positive review. At a toll booth or your coffee shop, pay for the person behind you. These are simple ways to spread the cheer around you.
Words of Appreciation
Life tests us, challenges us, and rewards us. We all have our good days and bad days. On the hard ones, a kind word from someone can be a ray of hope. So say thanks to the people who’ve helped you. Compliment them for a job well done, or show your support by helping them in return.
Leave a note, send a small token of appreciation, and don’t miss a chance to say thanks in person. Harvard Health describes research in which writing and delivering a letter of gratitude gave people an immediate lift in happiness. Simple, heartfelt words don’t cost much, but they can stay with someone for a long time.
Remember Someone Who Is Missing
Thanksgiving can bring an empty chair into sharp focus. We may be grieving someone who died, missing a loved one who lives far away, or simply feeling the distance that life has placed between us. You don’t have to hide that sadness to be grateful. Both can sit at the same table.
This week, choose one small way to honor the person you miss. Cook their favorite dish, place their photograph near the table, tell a story about them, or call them if you can. Invite everyone to share one memory or one thing they appreciate about that person. Gratitude isn’t always cheerful. Sometimes it is the simple act of saying, “You matter to me, and I remember.”
Care for What Already Serves You
The holidays can make us feel as if gratitude must arrive in a gift bag. We see sales everywhere, fill our carts, and forget the everyday things that already support our days. You don’t have to buy something new to honor what you have.
This week, choose one useful object that has served you well and give it a little care. Mend the loose button on a favorite coat, oil the cutting board that has seen years of family meals, clean the muddy shoes that carry you through winter, or repair the chair everyone gathers around. Take ten unhurried minutes and do the job with your own hands. It is a small practice, but it turns gratitude into stewardship. Sometimes appreciation looks like helping something last.
With so much going on in the world, we all need a dose of kindness, love, and lots of gratitude. One day of giving thanks may not seem like enough, and it isn't meant to be. Let’s take Thanksgiving as the place to start, and keep going until gratitude becomes a habit.
We believe a grateful heart notices more of the good that's already here. So pick one way from this list and try it this week. You don't need to do all ten. One is plenty.
In praise and celebration of life. Happy Thanksgiving. Salud!
Which of these will you try first? Tell us in the comments.
Lifeism shares ideas and practices for reflection. It is not medical, psychological or financial advice. Read our Disclaimer.