If there’s one thing educators know how to do, it’s give.

We give our energy, our creativity, our patience, our heart — often to the point that there’s barely anything left for ourselves at the end of the day. And it’s not because we don’t love the work. It’s because we care so deeply that we pour ourselves into every detail.

That’s exactly why gratitude has become such a powerful anchor in my own life and in the work I do with schools. Gratitude isn’t about pretending things are perfect. It’s about training our minds to notice the good that’s already there — the tiny, easy-to-miss moments that remind us why the work still matters… and why we still matter.

And sometimes, one small spark of gratitude can create a whole chain reaction.

The Story That Started My Gratitude Journey

I was presenting at an in-district PD day recently — the kind of day that fills you up and drains you at the same time. You know the ones. The energy is high, the learning is deep, and by the end, everyone’s brain is buzzing.

When the day wrapped up, I needed to turn in some materials, but I couldn’t figure out where they were supposed to go. I spotted another presenter and asked if she knew. She didn’t, so we stood there laughing at ourselves for a minute, both totally unsure but trying to figure it out.

We eventually started walking in opposite directions, and then — a few seconds later — she called out, “Hey! Come here! We know this person — they’ll help us!”

Just like that, she waved me over, and we got it all sorted out. It was such a small thing, but I felt this instant wave of gratitude for her. She didn’t have to circle back, but she did.

That’s where my gratitude journey started.

As I walked back to my car, my mind began connecting the dots:

• I was grateful for her quick help.
• Which reminded me how thankful I was to be there, sharing ideas that truly support teachers.
• That made me think of the person who organized the PD and invited me to speak.
• Then I thought about all the connections I’ve made through LinkedIn that opened doors like that one.
• Which made me deeply grateful for my business partner, who’s been there through every brainstorm, every leap, every “let’s try this.”
• And finally, I found myself just sitting in my car thinking, Wow… all of this started with a single moment of kindness.

That’s what a gratitude journey does. It doesn’t just make you think grateful thoughts — it helps you feel them. It pulls you back into the bigger picture.

What Exactly Is a Gratitude Journey?

A gratitude journey is a quick reflection practice that helps you trace your gratitude backward — from one link to another — to see how your life and work are connected by good things you might otherwise overlook.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start with one thing you’re grateful for.
   Something simple. A student’s smile, a moment of teamwork, a quiet morning coffee before first period.
2. Follow the links.
   Ask yourself: What made that moment possible? or Who helped me get there?
3. Keep tracing it back.
   Let each new answer lead to another layer of gratitude.
4. Capture it somehow.
   Write it down, record a voice note, or think it through during your drive home.
5. Take one deep, intentional breath.
   That’s it. One small act of reflection that opens your heart to more good.

Why This Practice Works (and Why Educators Need It Now)

Gratitude isn’t fluff — it’s neuroscience. Research shows that when we regularly practice gratitude, we literally retrain our brains to notice the positives more easily. It strengthens the parts of the brain tied to empathy, emotional regulation, and resilience.

For educators, this matters more than ever.

Because when we’re grounded in gratitude:

• We see the good our students are doing (instead of only what they’re missing.)
• We catch ourselves celebrating progress instead of chasing perfection.
• We end our days noticing what went right instead of what went wrong.

And maybe most importantly — gratitude helps us find joy in the work again. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger, something meaningful, something deeply human.

Your Turn: Build Your Own Gratitude Journey

Try this tonight or tomorrow morning. Pick one moment that stood out to you today — then trace it back.

See where it leads.
Notice how your energy shifts.
Let yourself feel that quiet lift that comes from realizing how much good is woven into your life already.

And if you love how that feels? You’ll find more simple, powerful practices just like this inside Lesson Plan for Life — our 6-week experience designed to help you build sustainable habits that reconnect you with you.

Because gratitude isn’t just an act.

It’s a ripple.

And when we start the ripple, the whole system begins to upspiral. 

Written by Sarah Fillion 2025