Gratitude

I was listening to a podcast recently—Unpaused with Dr. Marie-Claire Haver—featuring gerontologist Kerry Burnight. There was so much to take in, but what struck me right away was something simple: the importance of practicing gratitude.

I remember when gratitude was everywhere—Oprah talked about it often, and for a while it became such a buzzword that it almost lost its impact. Like, yes, yes… we get it. But it’s been a while since I’ve heard it framed as a meaningful pillar of aging—and it landed differently this time.

Because I believe it. Our thoughts matter. They carry energy. They shape how we experience our lives, right down to how we feel in our bodies.

So what does a gratitude practice actually look like? It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can happen anytime, anywhere. For me, it’s small moments throughout the day. When I wake up, I run through a quiet list of things I’m grateful for as I get out of bed. I step outside, let the sun hit my face, take a deep breath, and welcome the day with a sense of appreciation. I come back to it at a stoplight, when I walk through my front door, and again when I get into bed at night.

Midlife can be difficult. There are hormonal shifts, aging parents, children growing up or leaving home, relationship changes, financial stress—the list goes on.

And maybe that’s exactly why gratitude matters more now than ever. Not in a forced, “everything is perfect” kind of way—but in noticing what is going right. The body that carries you through the day. A quiet moment. The way flowers grow through cracks in the sidewalk.

When I feel anxious or overwhelmed, I lean on simple mantras to bring me back:
This too shall pass.
I’m capable of handling whatever comes my way.
I’m safe.
I’m grateful.

They help me shift—gently—back into a place of steadiness.

And sometimes, that small shift is everything.