Gratitude shouldn’t just be something we express once a year; it should shape how we live each day.

My mentor, the late Grady Nutt, captured this beautifully in his concept of ‘ThanksLiving.'”

Grady described “ThanksLiving” as: “An attitude that finds treasure in the plowed field of routine.” This perspective challenges us to rethink gratitude. While we often reserve it for life’s big moments—family, friends, career success—the truth is that much of our joy resides in the quiet, everyday routines we take for granted.

The coming week in the United States brings our annual Thanksgiving holiday. Even when our nation is as politically divided as it is today, we will still stop to express our blessings. (As we should…) But isn’t it interesting that we primarily express our gratitude for the big things in life — our family, friends, and career success? We seldom announce our appreciation for the “plowed field of routine” in our lives…even though that’s where we spend most of our time and where the seeds of gratitude can grow abundantly.

In a turbulent world, ThanksLiving offers an anchor—a way to cherish the moments that truly matter.

It’s a reminder that joy isn’t found in grand gestures but in the quiet rhythms of our lives, like the comfort of a familiar morning routine or the simple pleasure of sharing a meal.

Finding Joy in Routine

Every year at this time, I’m reminded of the wisdom of my dear, departed friend who was the Obi-Wan-sage to my young, ambitious Skywalker-speaker of long ago. Grady often remarked that I should slow down and enjoy the journey to success. “If you miss the small stuff, then the big stuff will not have the meaning it should. My hope is that you drink deeply from the waters of all life’s experiences,” he would tell me.

We have all likely lost someone special in our lives. It presents us with a unique understanding of the value of a single day, a moment in time. As Warren Zevon was dying of cancer, he said to David Letterman, “Enjoy every sandwich.” It is no coincidence that my friends in the band Diamond Rio had one of their biggest hits with a song titled “One More Day.”

Grady’s wisdom reminds us that gratitude is more than a once-a-year practice. Instead, it’s a mindset we should maintain daily, even during mundane activities. We all need these reminders to seize the value and worth of every moment.

Living Thankfully Every Day

Here are three ways to start practicing ThanksLiving:

1. Begin each day by naming one thing you’re thankful for in your daily routine.
2. Pause during moments of stress to reflect on something positive happening right now.
3. End your day by writing down one ‘treasure’ you found in the ‘plowed field of routine.’

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table tomorrow, let’s commit to ThanksLiving—not just for a day but for every day.

Let’s drink from the ‘water of life’s experiences’ with zest, as Grady described, and find the treasures hidden in life’s ordinary moments.

In doing so, we can transform gratitude from a fleeting sentiment celebrated on a single day into a more meaningful way of life.