Finding Strength in Thankfulness This November

As the year begins to wind down, November feels like an invitation to pause. The rush of the months before settles into something softer, slower — a time to notice, to give thanks, and to reconnect with what truly matters.

My Word of the Year is strong, and over the months, I’ve discovered that strength takes many forms. Sometimes it’s loud and determined; other times, it’s quiet and steady. As November arrives, I want to explore how gratitude and strength are deeply intertwined — how one nourishes the other.

The Many Faces of Strength

When I first chose the word strong for this year, I thought about it in the usual sense — resilience, perseverance, courage. But as the months passed, I began to see a gentler side of strength.

Strength isn’t always about pushing forward. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to rest. It’s about standing firm in your truth, setting boundaries, and allowing yourself to feel deeply.

There were times this year when I had to hold steady through uncertainty, times I had to speak up, and times I had to let go. Each experience reminded me that real strength often shows up in quiet, grounded ways.

Gratitude as a Source of Strength

This month, I’m connecting strength with gratitude. Because gratitude, too, is a kind of power — one that steadies the heart and strengthens the spirit.

Gratitude doesn’t mean pretending that everything is perfect. It means acknowledging what’s good, even in the midst of the hard. It’s pausing long enough to notice the simple gifts of everyday life — a morning cup of coffee, a text from a friend, a peaceful walk, a deep breath that reminds me I’m still here.

When I choose to focus on gratitude, I feel a quiet strength rise within me. It helps me shift my attention from what’s missing to what’s already here. It softens the edges of my worries and opens up space for peace.

Gratitude doesn’t erase challenges — but it gives me the courage and calm to face them.

Practicing Gratitude Daily

This November, I want to live with intentional gratitude. Not as a checklist, but as a rhythm.

Some days, that might look like journaling three things I’m thankful for before bed. Other days, it might be whispering a simple “thank you” in the middle of an ordinary moment.

I want to make room for gratitude in the pauses — in the moments between doing and being.

Because the more I practice gratitude, the more I realize it’s not just about noticing blessings — it’s about feeling anchored by them. It’s about remembering that even in uncertainty, there is stability to be found in what’s good and true.

In  November, I’m slowing down and leaning into gratitude.

I’m letting it strengthen me from the inside out — grounding me in awareness, compassion, and faith. I’m choosing to focus on what lifts me rather than what drains me.

Every time I pause to give thanks, I feel my spirit stand a little taller. Every time I focus on what’s good, I feel more anchored in the present moment.

Gratitude is a quiet kind of strength — the kind that doesn’t demand attention but transforms everything it touches.

As November unfolds, I hope you’ll take a few quiet moments each day to pause and give thanks — for the simple, the ordinary, and the extraordinary. Gratitude has a way of softening our hearts and strengthening our spirits at the same time.

Let’s make this a month of noticing — and of giving thanks, deeply and often.

Gratefulness is the inner gesture of giving meaning to our life by receiving life as a gift.

David Stendl-Rast