186 Of The Top Things To Be Thankful For In Your Life

Do you take time to feel thankful for the blessings in your life?

Even during difficult times, there are so many things to be grateful for. In fact, intentionally focusing on gratitude can make you feel happier and help you recognize that you have far more good than bad in your life.

In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to make (or review) your list of things to be thankful for.

So, to help, we’ve made a list of things to be thankful for — along with reasons to be thankful for what you have.

Feel free to use this list as you create your own, and enjoy the opportunity to bask in gratitude for a while.

And if you ever get stumped when someone asks you (maybe at the Thanksgiving table), “What are you thankful for?” consider the lists that follow as your launch pad.

And don’t forget why we give thanks in the first place. It isn’t all about the food.

Benefits of Gratitude

So, what do you gain by being more grateful? Why should you ask yourself (before anyone else gets the chance), “What am I thankful for?”

Check out some of the benefits of being more mindful of your blessings:

  • Deeper and more mindful enjoyment of the present — and the people in it
  • More energy and increased mental clarity
  • A better frame of mind for forgiveness
  • A stronger feeling of connection to and solidarity with others
  • More patience with others (and with yourself)
  • Greater generosity with others (and with yourself)
  • Less waste and more sharing
  • Less anxiety and better sleep
  • Better resilience and mental health

Gratitude is good for all of you — body, mind, and spirit. Every breath of life is cause enough for gratitude, but from the moment we wake up in the morning, it’s so much easier to focus on things that will ultimately fade from memory.

man at table of pies things to be thankful for

Until it becomes a solid habit, it takes an effort to begin with the words “I am thankful for…” and finish with at least one thing, which could be the fact that you’re alive for another morning.

Thanksgiving Day is your annual reminder to spend more time in mindful gratitude for the present and for everyone and everything that makes your life worth living or more enjoyable.

Things To Be Thankful For List

1. Love — specifically our ability to give and receive love

2. Family — even those who are currently hard to be around

3. Friends — besides those you’re related to

4. Your pet/s — or those of your family members or friends

5. Your income — from a job, freelance work, etc.
6. Business connections — bosses, coworkers, clients, and other business partners

7. Good neighbors — because you’d rather not move (yet)

8. Forgiveness and goodwill — our ability to forgive and to want the good of others (including those who’ve hurt us)

9. Patience — specifically other people’s patience with you and the moments when you were challenged to mindfully practice patience

10. Hope — in spite of the bumps in the road

11. Time — every minute you’ve had up to now and this new day

Related: 99 Of The Best Thank You Quotes For Friends

12. Quiet time — for meditation, reflection, and recovery

13. Vision (eyesight) — and everything that improves it

14. Your health — strong heart, clear lungs, functioning kidneys, etc.

15. Your education — from birth until now

16. Your mobility — the ability to get around (on your feet, by driving, etc.)

17. Your home — and everything in it (that belongs there)

18. Your food — every bite and drink of nourishment you’ve had and that you’ll have today

19. Your clothes — every stitch of clothing you’ve worn and will wear today

20. Your personal accomplishments — everything you have reason to be (humbly) proud of

21. Your professional greatest hits — everything you’ve accomplished that has contributed to your professional development

22. Your creations — other than your kids

23. Your car/s — every car you’ve had that has gotten you to where you wanted to go, and the car/s you have now

24. Books you’ve read (and enjoyed) — including those you’re still reading

25. Movies and shows you’ve seen and enjoyed

26. Things and people who have made you laugh until it hurts

27. New and eye-opening programs/courses — and what you’ve learned from them

28. Air conditioning (in the summer) — or whatever helped you stay cool

Related: 37 Quotes On Gratitude To Shower People With Love

29. Heating (in the colder months) & fuel for the furnace — and everything else that helped you stay warm

women drinking wine things to be thankful for


30. Trees — for their beauty, habitats, firewood, etc.

31. Wind — for the exhilarating beauty it brings to trees, water, fallen leaves, etc. (especially when it’s not destroying things)

32. Rain — for its beauty and its soothing sounds (when it doesn’t cause flooding)

33. Snow — for its beauty, for the perfect calm of a windless snowfall, and for snow days (mainly for the snow that is not on the roads)

34. Drinking water — all its beauty and restorative power and with nothing added that takes away from it

35. Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, etc. — for their beauty and for the habitats they provide

36. Electricity — on which we depend for so much (keeping food cold, cooking, lighting, etc.)

37. Indoor plumbing — enough said (though that TARDIS-themed outhouse is still worth considering)

38. The Internet — so we can work from home, stay connected with family and friends in other states, get our words out into the world, etc.

39. Email — for personal and business use (less stressful for many of us than talking on the phone)

40. Texting — a boon to introverts everywhere (ditto on the phone thing)

41. Ebooks and reading apps — including Kindle and Kobo (makes your smartphone entertaining even when there’s no WiFi and you’re sharing a data plan with someone)

42. Audiobooks and audiobook apps — including Audible, Kobo, and public library app (some books are even better when someone else reads them to you)

43. Other tools that help you make the most of each day — alarm clock, calendar, Trello, music playlists, and any other tools you use regularly

44. Journals — for all the ways they help you make sense out of life (and yourself) and create the life you want

45. Farmer’s markets — think raw honey (magic for sore throats) and fresh, crunchy apples, along with starter plants for your garden, pumpkins, homemade jam, etc.

Related: 74 Self-Care Ideas For Stressed Out People Pleasers

46. Flip-flops — which may be the only form of footwear one of your kids will tolerate — even when there’s snow on the ground (tell me I’m not alone)

47. Frozen snacks — berries, tropical fruit, thin mints, etc.

48. Fresh, hot coffee (or tea) in the morning — or throughout the day (every warm mug you’ve sipped from and those you enjoy today

49. Functioning laundry machines — because you don’t appreciate them as much as when they stop working

50. Fresh, breathable air — because without it…. (also, on an odd but related personal note, breath mints, VapoRub, and air filters)

51. Pet treats — because you love whatever makes them happy

52. Hot chocolate — don't forget the fluff or marshmallows

53. Stationary bikes — because it's nice to exercise on days when its raining and you don't want to leave the house

54. Reusable shopping bags — they're cute and go a long way in preserving precious resources

55. Scented oils — with just a few sniffs, it can raise your mood

56. Auto save — the thought of it not existing sends shivers down our collective spine

57. Inexpensive prescription glasses — because having lots of quirky frames is fun

58. Gel pens — writing never felt so smooth

59. Light bulbs — because they give light

50. Candy — sweet things sometimes hit the spot

61. Knowledge — learning about the world is a noble pursuit

62. Mistakes — because they're the best teachers we have

63. Actual teachers — for their patience and assistance

64. Period dramas — because costumes and castles are hard to beat 

65. Good hair days — loving how you look is empowering

66. Massages — few things in life feel better

67. Dollar stores — because sometimes you want to go on a shopping spree and only have $10

68. Wikipedia — encyclopedias used to be prohibitively expensive and out-of-date

69. Dessert — the best course of the meal

70. Streaming services — because binging ranks high on the list of 21st-century joys

71. Socks — on a chilly autumn or cold winter night

72. Photography — allowing us to capture our moments

73. Doctors — for taking the time to learn the things that keep us alive

74. CBD oil — because sometimes you need a natural way to take the edge off

75. Clearing up misunderstandings — it feels terrific to prevent a molehill from turning into a mountain by confronting it head-on and with compassion

76. Bright colors — happy colors have the power to boost your mood

77. Ballet dancers — both male and female, because graceful movement can be magical and hypnotizing

78. The National Do Not Call Register — because the less noise spam in your life, the better

79. Comedies — a deep laugh can be downright healing

80. Holidays — celebration lifts the spirit

81. National Geographic — and other media outlets that beautifully bring the world to us

82. Deodorant — because without it, public life would be decidedly less aromatic 

83. Towels just out of the dryer — hot, soft, and pleasant smelling

84. Good fortune cookie fortunes — when they're perfect for the moment, it feels magical

85. Thank you notes — it's heartwarming to get a sincere thank you

86. Positive feedback — it's encouraging and motivating to know you're doing a good job

87. Good memories — holding on to positive memories can help your mood

88. Literacy — being able to communicate with people easily is a blessing

89. A completed to-do list — accomplishing all your daily goals is something to celebrate

90. Genuine apologies — knowing someone is truly sorry is humanizing and humbling

91. Family traditions — our brains love rituals and traditions

92. The smell of fresh baked goods — but if you're eating mindfully, it can be too tempting!

93. Help — life is tough, and having support from friends, family, or caretakers makes things much easier

94. Hot showers after a tough day or workout — standing underneath the beating water can feel healing

95. Your favorite chair — a comfortable place to sit is something we take for granted

96. A great meal — nourishing and delicious food is a delight

97. Road trips — especially if you love adventure

98. Bumping into old friends — if you like them and just lost touch

99. The ability to easily learn about other cultures — expanding knowledge is never a bad idea

100. Perfect pictures — where everyone is smiling

101. Chapstick — a cold, dry winter days82. 

102. GPS — for those of us without an innate sense of direction

103. Duct tape — because there's not much it can't do

104. Funny/sweet animal videos — on a bad day, they can make everything better

105. Food delivery services — because sometimes you don't have an ounce of energy left

106. Sleeping in late — the definition of indulgent

107. Public holidays — a day off is always welcome

“Thankful for You” Sayings

1. “In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” – Albert Schweitzer (for those who stoke the fire in you)

2. “Gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep.” – Felix Frankfurter (for when you’re so grateful, you struggle to put it into words).

3. “When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree.” – Vietnamese Proverb (for all the good fruit that others’ words and actions have yielded in your life)

4. “By the way, I’m wearing the smile that you gave me.” – Unknown (for those who make you smile when you think of them)


5. “You may forget with whom you laughed, but you will never forget with whom you wept.” – Kahlil Gibran (for those who have mourned with you).

6. “There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.” – Helen Keller (for those who have helped you find your way)

7. “No matter how sure you are that a friend will be there for you, it’s the greatest feeling when the time comes, and there they are.” – Robert Brault (for those who have been there for you when it mattered most)

8. “Thank you, dear God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. Thank you for the rain. And for the chance to wake up in three hours and go fishing: I thank you for that now, because I won't feel so thankful then.” – Garrison Keillor (for those who bless us in ways that don’t always feel like blessings)

9. “Thank you to our farmers for all you do to keep food on our tables.” – Elise Stefanik

10. ”You know how some folks will answer your soul-searching question with a long, stream-of-consciousness monologue that has nothing to do with your question and then, when you try to remind them of the question, they ask you not to interrupt…. Thank you for never doing that. Thank you for listening, for asking thoughtful questions, and for not interrupting. It means a lot. Really. I cannot thank you enough!” – Anonymous (for the good conversation partners in your life)

11. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder (for those who make you feel most alive when you’re thinking of them)

12. “Thanks to those who listened; you made me feel like I was worth it.” – Unknown (for those who have taken the time to really listen to you)

13. “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” — Gordon T. Watts (for the people in your life who light you up inside).

14. “To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with.” — Mark Twain (for those with whom you share your joy – from the greatest to the smallest)

15. “A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson (for your best friends, who are miracles as well as masterpieces)

16. “I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.” — Walt Whitman (for all those whose company you enjoy)

17. “Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.” — Washington Irving (for friends who are far away)

18. “Thank you for seeing past my attempts to be brave and to spare you the drama of what I’m going through. Thank you for wanting my company even when I’m pretty sure I’m hard to be around. Because of you, I know what a friend is.” – Anonymous (for someone who has demonstrated the best side of empathy)

18. “You’re my favorite bowl of soup when I’m cold, and the freshest, coldest water when I’m overheated and tired. You’re the seasoning on my chicken and the crunchy bits in my salad. You make everything better!” – Anonymous

Thankfulness Quotes for Any Occasion

1. “Never take anything for granted.” — Benjamin Disraeli

2. “I’m thankful to be breathing, on this side of the grass. Whatever comes, comes.” — Ron Perlman

3. “I’m grateful for always this moment, the now, no matter what form it takes.” — Eckhart Tolle

4. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” — Melody Beattie

5. ”Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.” — Ralph Marston

6. “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” — James Allen

7. “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.” — James E. Faust

8. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie

9. “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” — Deepak Chopra

10. “The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.” — Robert Holden

11. “It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.” — Eckhart Tolle

12. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” — Cicero

13. “Have gratitude for the things you’re discarding. By giving gratitude, you’re giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it becomes a lot easier to let go.” — Marie Kondo

14. “The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

15. “Nothing new can come into your life unless you are grateful for what you already have.” — Michael Bernhard

16. “When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.” — Tecumseh

17. “Of all the characteristics needed for both a happy and morally decent life, none surpasses gratitude. Grateful people are happier, and grateful people are more morally decent.” — Dennis Prager

18. “I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet.” — Confucius

19. “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” – John Milton

20. “Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy

21. “Appreciation can make a day — even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” – Margaret Cousins

22. “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” – Dalai Lama

23. “Thank you, universe, for all the good things in my life that I don’t yet know about…” – Unknown

24. “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

25. “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.: – Epictetus

26. “Saying thank you creates love.” – Daphne Rose Kingma

27. “Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant.” – Tony Robbins

28. ”None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” – Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

29. “Wake at dawn with a winged heart, and give thanks for another day of loving.” Kahlil Gibran

30. “If we don’t feel grateful with what we already have, what makes us think we will be happy with more?” – Unknown

Why You Need A Gratitude List

Whatever you’re doing, having a gratitude list reminds you of the goodness in your life and to be grateful for all of it, especially when the weight of your concerns lies heavily on your shoulders.

It’s easy to get distracted by whatever is going wrong. It’s more urgent. It cries out for your attention and arouses all the powerful negative emotions that go with it. It feels like an emergency, even when it isn’t.

Gratitude, though, is always important. Without it, the good things in your life go off the radar, and the bad things are all you see — and all you seem to have room for.

Without gratitude, nothing else makes sense. With it, everything that belongs in your life falls into place.

So, think of your Thanksgiving gratitude list as your annual soul check — and as an early Christmas gift to yourself.

30 Gratitude Cards (Free Printable Download)

Are there special people in your life you are thankful for? Show your appreciation with a “random act of gratitude” during the next 30 days.

Download our free printable thank you words of appreciation and share them with friends, family, or school teachers!

Here's what you do:

1. Download the PDF printable gratitude list pages (immediate access, no opt-in required).

2. Make additional copies of the pages if you wish.

3. Cut the thankfulness messages along the dotted lines.

4. Over the next 30 days, leave these surprise gratitude messages for others to brighten their day. Put them on your spouse's pillow, on a friend's car, on a co-worker's desk, or in a stranger's mailbox.

How and When to Use Your Gratitude List Ideas 

We've listed many things to be grateful for, but how can you activate them to enhance your day-to-day life? We've developed a few ideas. 

When Gratitude Journaling

The jury and studies are in, and the verdict is that journaling is excellent for your mental health.

Truth be told, psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists aren't 100% positive about why it's so helpful, but it's undeniable that it is.

People who journal are less stressed, more even-keeled, and have an easier time working through hardships. 

One popular method is gratitude journaling. Easy and helpful, all you have to do is write down five or more things you're grateful for that day. On bad days, it can be rough, but it can also keep you from spiraling downward.   

As Art Inspiration

Art is a wonderful way to express yourself — even if you're not an artist. Making art is also great for your brain. It works our creative muscles and encourages fresh neural pathways, which keeps the brain young and agile. 

You can use things for which you're grateful as inspiration. And don't forget that your works needn't be literal representations. Using concepts abstractly can also be a good “workout” for the mind.  

During Meditations

Meditating is an excellent way to calm your nerves and center yourself. Studies show it's also effective in promoting cardiovascular and mental health, with some research suggesting that it helps slow aging.

Focusing on things we're grateful for can decrease anxiety and improve mood.

As A Bucket List

If you're bored, why not do some of the things on the list? Get ice cream or sit in a park.

Take advantage of your day off or send a friend a sweet apology letter for something you did months ago but still feel bad about. And don't forget that doing nice things for other people also lifts your mood.

Did you enjoy this list of things to be thankful for?

If you found value in this article, I hope you’ll share it and encourage others to pass it on. Whatever kind of day you’re having, by focusing on what you are thankful for, you remind others to do the same, and you spread the wealth of the benefits that go with it.

Though not all the items listed are specific things for which to be grateful, each can serve to trigger a memory that will make it easier for you to compose your own gratitude list. And that’s the whole purpose of this article.

May you be blessed, and may you share those blessings with others.

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