The Sacred Art of Noticing
Nov 26, 2025My spiritual director once gave me valuable advice: begin keeping a gratitude journal and make thankfulness a part of my everyday routine.
She encouraged me to approach gratitude as an Examen, so each evening I pause to jot down things I'm thankful for that day.
At first, I was worried that I’d treat it like a checklist. Something I had to do and something I had to do correctly. I also wondered if I was forcing myself to feel gratitude. What if I had a crappy day and I wasn’t really grateful for anything?
Despite my initial reservations, I thought I’d give it a try. I remembered her conversation during the session and I realized she was simply asking me to notice the big or little things which brought me joy.
Some of the small gifts that found me that day:
an orange sunset,
a hug from my child,
a healthy morning,
a red tree dancing in the wind,
a cat settling into my lap,
a kiss from my husband.
At the end of the week, I review my entries and offer a prayer of thanks.
And I found, even on the worst days, that I still managed to find something I was grateful for.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m reminded again that gratitude isn’t about manufacturing positivity. It’s about paying attention. Noticing the small wisdoms. Letting the ordinary become holy.
~Katie Rea, WTC Writing Coach
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