I've actually felt much happier, lighter, and more content this last month than I have in a while. I think it's because of two main reasons - first, I've been feeling much better health-wise, and it's been such a relief to know that feeling "normal" (or at least, my own version of normal) again is possible, and second, we've had at least a few days of spring-like weather. I've also really tried to use my weekend time to relax, too. All of these things have left me feeling much more content overall, which has been a really nice feeling. In turn, it hasn't felt like a struggle to find things that I feel grateful for. So here's what's on my gratitude list this month.

I have the winter blahs in January (...and in February!), so there's really no better time for a gratitude list. I could really use the reminder to focus on the good instead of complaining about the early dark and the gloominess that's been somewhat of a constant in Pittsburgh lately. So here's what I'm currently feeling grateful for.

It feels like the time after the holidays is the right time to think about what we're grateful for - a nice look inward after all the excess that tends to come along with the holidays. So, in no particular order, here's what I'm feeling grateful for this month.

Thanksgiving feels like the perfect time to share all the things - big and small - that I'm feeling grateful for. Other than, of course, all of you! Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

This is another one of those months - I had already planned to write this post today, but focusing on gratitude was a reminder that I sorely needed! I mentioned that last week was rough - just lots of little things going wrong - and it's so easy to get caught up in that. But letting myself dwell on the negative never actually makes me feel any better - if anything, it makes me feel down for longer! It's fake it until you make it in a way, except I'm not faking it - just reminding myself that there is still a lot of good amidst the bad.

Even though I have been blogging for five years now, I still struggle to figure out what to share in real-time. Sometimes it's hard to talk about things while I'm still actively in the midst of them - I'm focused on just getting through, not sitting back and reflecting. All of this is to say that I've been dealing with some health issues that have made my energy take an absolute nose dive. I've been physically exhausted a lot of the time, which is also making me feel mentally and emotionally exhausted a lot of the time, too. So I figured there couldn't be a better time for me to sit down and write a gratitude list, because frankly, I'm feeling pretty un-grateful right about now.

I plan out my posting schedule in advance for these posts, but once again, it comes up right when I need it the most. It's just been a little bit of a struggle lately, so I appreciate the reminder to stop and focus on the good. Here's what I'm feeling grateful for right now.

This week has been kind of exhausting - I'm just tired and a little bit overwhelmed with everything, and yet nothing in particular. So it seemed like the perfect time to write a gratitude list, because I think I could use the reminder myself of the good things going on. So here, in no particular order, is what I'm grateful for right now.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I really love sharing this monthly gratitude list posts. Sometimes I am so quick to keep moving on to the next thing, and the next, and the next... and these posts force me to stop and reflect, which is definitely a good thing. I'm always in such a good mood when I finish writing these posts, too!

I think that I'm going to turn this into a monthly post - just like the monthly favorites, it forces me to pause and reflect. I think the writing the post is a nice reminder to me of all the great things going on around me, big and small, and I hope it can be a little reminder for you to stop and smell the metaphorical roses, too. Here's what I'm feeling grateful for right now.