To Be Grateful, You Must Look Back
Weekend Reads v. 16 May 2026
You ever have one of those weeks where the penny seems to be dropping on the same revelation for everyone around you? Around here, the revolution du jour was gratitude. The topic came up repeatedly in my conversations, and because my phone is definitely eavesdropping, my social feed ramped up any and all posts related to the art of gratitude.
I’ve read about gratitude and listened to lectures on the power of gratitude for many years, and yet I found myself discovering something new this week amongst all these conversations. To be grateful, you must look back. Yes, you can also take stock of what’s around you and feel grateful, but even this practice is grounded in past experiences. You can certainly try to be grateful for something in the future, but because the future is untold that exercise may turn out to be wishful thinking.
Of course this revelation set me on a course of unpacking an entirely new subject: how often do I take stock of my life so that I can be grateful?
This was a question I discussed with both my mom and sister this week. It seems the passage of time has given my mom the ability to see the actions of people in a different angle. A grandmother who seemed stern to a vibrant little girl now appears dutiful in hindsight. Her small gestures seem much more monumental now, like the care she took when preparing an afternoon snack or how she was always sure to make up the small twin bed ahead of a weekend visit. These were not robotic chores. These were gifts tethered to a deep love.
It seems the act of recalling these moments of provision and love is where gratitude’s spark of magic originates. But how can we carry these revelations of gratitude forward if we do not share them or write them down? And just how is it possible in this hyper-technological age that I write absolutely nothing down outside of meeting notes?! My beautiful paper journals sit blank at the moment, and my notes app is littered with half-baked thoughts, to-do lists, and funny things people said (which I am always so glad to have recorded after the fact).
I’m endeavoring to put pen to paper and start recording those moments in my life that spark gratitude. I’ll jot down things from today, this week, this month, and I’ll also venture back into the archives to record past experiences. Only, maybe like my mom I’ll see the past from new angles that will give me more material for the gratitude journal.
p.s. Want to see someone’s face light up? Try telling them, “I appreciate you,” as you express thanks for their help. That’s one of my favorite ways to brighten the day.
A reminder to point out the good.
Disastrously depressing changes to education eliminated cursive writing from our lives, so I’m thrilled to see these Cursive Clubs are sprouting up around the country.
“Cursive was not included when the Common Core standards were adopted in 2010, and now many children can’t sign their names, write checks or read historical documents written in cursive, such as the Declaration of Independence…“When students see me take my own notes in cursive, they immediately ask me to write their name in cursive and then they ask me to teach it to them,” Ms. Finman said. “This has happened a lot over the years, so I asked, ‘Could I teach you this in a cursive club?’” (Source)
Ah, I’d forgotten how good this song is! Blasting now as I write to you.
I’m kind of fascinated by this house made fun with quirky ceramics, hallways drenched in primary colors, and a bathroom meticulously lined in red grout – all put together with a tremendous amount of elbow grease.
If you’re serious about sunscreen, this large option of Supergoop is for you.
Did not know the origin story of Iceland’s famous public swimming pools and hot tubs until now.
This totally seems like a note I would have written to my sister when we were little. Ha!
Visit this website and see just how much data you’re giving away each time you land on a new page. It’s kinda eerie! But also, I love that I’ve somehow scrambled my location data in such a way that my settings are consistently 45+ miles off.
This world history map kinda gave me a headache. Apparently it’s a revamp of this “masterpiece of visual economy” that was first published in 1769. (Let the record show the original did not give me a headache which certainly says something about my personality.)
Bookings just opened up for the summer season at Breac.House in Donegal, Ireland. This place has been on my bucket list for ages! It’s simply stunning.
Looks like paracord will be a fashion trend this summer.
This statement from James Clear rings true to me:
“Luck flows through people and travels by conversation. The people you talk to determine the opportunities you find.
Keep talking to the same people, keep finding the same opportunities. Start talking to new people, start finding new opportunities.
If you want different luck, start walking into different rooms.” (Source)
How beautiful are these paper plates?
A rare quiet corner of the French Riviera.
I hope your weekend is full of your favorite things. Thank you for being here.
I could see you in that house! It’s amazing!