Looking for 500 things to be grateful for during this time? Want a list of things to be thankful for in 2024?
We can all agree that this year has been particularly challenging when it comes to gratitude. 2024 is here, but all that anxiety, grief, stress, and sadness of the last few years persists.
It’s hard to be thankful when it feels as if the world is falling apart and normal life may never return. For most of us, our lives have never seemed so chaotic, uncertain, and frankly frightening as it does now.
With haunting headlines and curves that just won’t flatten, and waves that keep coming, our mental health and emotional well-being are under more stress than ever before. From trying to stay sane while social distancing and working at home with kids, to financial struggles during the crisis and so many of us feeling lonelier than ever before.
We’re all doing our best and trying to keep it together, and gratitude CAN HELP. It is one of the most powerful emotions with the potential to wipe away stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. Gratitude helps us find our calm in the middle of chaos, center ourselves, and move forward in a more positive mindset.
If that’s something you need right now, enjoy this list of over 500 things to be grateful for no matter what. Use this list to help you see things more positively, more hopefully than you do now. May it put a smile on your face and help you to feel happier!
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Over 500 Things to be Grateful For
Things to Be Thankful for in Nature
It’s all around you, from grass fields to cloud-filled skies. Open your eyes and your heart to the beauty and magic of it all. Breathe it in, deep breaths, and be thankful for it. The slender of nature has the ability to help us relax and slow down in a chaotic fast-paced life. There are so many benefits to spending time in nature.
- Sunshine on a cloudy day
- Blue skies and clear skies
- Clear starry nights
- Crisp Autumn days
- Flowers blooming
- Walks in the park
- Strolls on the beach
- Beautiful sunrises and sunsets
- Ocean views and clear water
- Running into the waves
- Sand in between your toes
- Salty Air you can taste
- Big clouds that seem unreal
- Misty days and raindrops
- Cool breeze on a hot day
- Seeing a rainbow
- Hot days and warm weather
- Mountain top views
- The first snowfall
- Waking up to foggy days
- Getting caught in the rain
- Breathtaking waterfalls
- Animals and creatures of all kind
- Oceans and sea life
- Paths in the woods
- Perfect summer days
- Spring mornings
- Four seasons
- Mother Nature
- Full moon at night
- The Circle of Life
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Why is Gratitude Important?
Simple Pleasures in Life to Be Grateful For
Life is all about the simple things. They make your day better, they’re what we live for. It’s the little things we miss the most because in so many ways they define us and make us feel whole. Be thankful for the simple things in life because they make you happier. Next time you enjoy your morning coffee, or cool shower in the morning, slow down and savor every moment of it.
- Water pressure
- Cup of coffee
- Cozy days being lazy
- Warm socks on a cold day
- Foot massages and back rubs
- Laughing at a good joke
- Spending time alone
- Winning a game
- The weekend
- Mental health days
- Sweater weather
- Deep conversations
- The kindness of strangers
- Running into a friend
- PayDay and bonuses
- Fresh air through an open window
- Talking to a loved one
- Best friends forever
- Spending time with Grandparents
- Good hair days
- Getting presents and gifts
- Receiving a handwritten letter
- Money in your pocket
- Free samples
- Getting good news
- Freshly made coffee
- Falling in love
- The laughter of children
- The smell of newborn babies
- Winning a prize
- A text from someone you like
- Keeping a plant alive
- Candles and essential oils
- Having a good cry
- The aroma of food cooking
- Quality time with your parents
- Getting unexpected money
- Holding puppies, kittens, or bunnies
- Staying up late at night
- Driving with the windows open
- Dancing like no one sees you
- Listening to music too loud
- Getting money back on tax returns
- Finding something you lost
- Taking a walk down memory lane
- Daylight savings time ending
- Hearing a song you love
- Singing in the car
👉🏽 RELATED POST: How to Manifest Gratitude from the Universe
Celebrations and Holidays to Be Grateful For
Yes, gatherings and parties might look different for now, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thankful for them! We have memories, we have traditions and they may have changed for now, but we can still enjoy them. We still have what these days throughout the year mean to us and so many others throughout time. Cherish these moments to celebrate and moments to remember the past.
- Family traditions
- Cheap candy after holidays
- Decorations and lights
- New Year’s Eve and Day
- Valentine’s Day Cards and Gifts
- Singles Awareness Day
- Super Bowl Sunday and Football
- Black History Month
- The Civil Right’s Movement
- Women’s History Month
- The Suffragettes and the Women’s Movement
- St. Patrick’s Day and everything green
- The first day of Spring
- Easter chocolates and egg hunts
- Mother’s Day and moms
- Juneteenth Day / Emancipation Day
- Father’s Day and dads
- The first day of Summer
- Christmas Morning
- Thanksgiving Dinner
- Indigenous People’s Day
- Trick or Treating
- Halloween Decorations
- Dressing up in costumes
- Winter Solstice and the first day of winter
- Christmas Trees and presents
- New Year’s Eve parties
Modern Conveniences to be Thankful For
So much has changed and continues to change. The world is so different from just 50 years, if not 25 years ago! Recognize that you are blessed and enjoy modern conveniences that previous generations would not even think were possible. These modern conveniences make your life so easy, think about it. How would you do laundry? Cook food? Shop or even travel (when that’s allowed)?
- Electricity
- Running water
- Technology
- The Internet
- Smart Phones
- Fitness Trackers
- 5G Connection
- Headphones
- Supermarkets
- DVR, PVR or on-demand
- Online shopping
- Black Friday
- Boxing Day
- Online banking
- Emojis
- Same day delivery
- Ubereats and good delivery
- Take Out
- Restaurants
- Drive Through Lanes
- GPS and Maps
- Spotify
- Messaging
- Zoom and Video Chat
- Netflix and streaming
- Trains and Buses
- Cameras
- Selfies
- Public Transportation
- Customer Service
- Modern medicine
- Vaccines
- Hospitals
- Doctors
- Pain killers
- Pharmacies
- 24-hour stories
- Nurses and health care workers
- Air travel and planes
- Tourism
- Foreign imports
- Online education
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Laws and legal system
- The right to vote
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of religion
- Return policies
- Ability to call 911
- Fire and rescue
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Appreciation Quotes For Doctors
Appreciate All the Things You Love
You know what I’m talking about, those things that are so you! From your favorite outfit and song to your best friend and free samples at Costco. There are so many things to be grateful for that you love and enjoy. More than the simple pleasures you enjoy every day, these are treats that make ordinary days and moments that much better. What things that you love are you grateful for?
- Your favorite song
- TV shows you’re into
- That movie you love
- A good book
- Going out to eat
- Favorite outfit
- Freebies
- Jeans you love
- Favorite t-shirt
- Date nights
- Comfy PJs
- Emotional support animal
- Shoes you can wear all night
- Learning something new
- Your perfect playlist
- Girls / Guys Night Out
- Coffee dates
- Home-cooked meal
- Your best friend
- Movie marathons
- New outfit
- Blogs worth following
- Double features
- Support of family
- Binge-watching
- Long weekends
Be Thankful For Things To Do and Places to Go
All the Activities You Could Do
There are so many ways to make a boring day exciting! Most of these activities are all around you. You’ve likely done most of them at least once in your life, whether you loved or hated it, it’s always the experience that you can be grateful for. Since so much is off the table right now, maybe you can add some of these activities to your bucket list? Be thankful for the opportunity to get out there and try something new! Go outside more, and enjoy!
- Running through the sprinklers
- Riding a rollercoaster
- Jumping into the lake
- Swimming in the pool
- Running into the ocean
- Climbing a mountain
- Views from the top
- Swinging from a tree
- Road trips and long drives
- Bikes rides, rollerblading
- Going for a hike
- Sitting under a waterfall
- Getting lost somewhere new
- Going to sports games
- Shopping sprees
- Playing video games
- Sleeping in a hammock
- Playing jump rope
- Skipping rocks on the late
- Climbing trees or mountains
- Listening to music
- Skateboarding or longboarding
- Rolling down a hill
- Tobogganing or sledding
- Jumping in leaves
- Building a snowman
- Looking at art
- Picnics in the park
- Attending a concert
- Stargazing at night
- Sightseeing
- Fishing and boating
- Campfires and camping out
- Gardening
- Playing Board games
- Dressing up
- Painting and pottery
- Arts, crafts and hobbies
- Watching documentaries
- Traveling to a new place
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Ways to Practice Gratitude
Be Thankful For All the Places You Could to Go
Go for a walk in your community and see all that is around you for you to explore and experience. From local art galleries to quaint coffee shops, you could find your new favorite artist or discover a new coffee spot. These places are perfect for making memories with those you love or even for first dates. They make up most of our childhood memories and teen years, so why not be thankful for them?
- Museums
- Art Galleries
- Historic neighborhoods
- Pop up shops
- Food festivals
- Farmers market
- The Fair
- Amusement parks
- Drive-in Movies
- Mini-golf and golfing
- National Parks
- Recreational centers
- Libraries
- Arcades
- Dollar stores
- Cute book shops
- Coffee shops
- Plant Nurseries
- Heritage sites
- Antic shops
- Theatres and Plays
- Food trucks
- Conservatories
- Movie Theaters
- Hairdresser
- Spas and Salons
- Outlet Malls
- Escape Rooms
- Food Courts
- Haunted houses
- Gardens
- Candy stores
- Toy shops
- Flea Markets
Appreciate Every Emotion and Feeling You Can Have
Being emotional can be seen as a weakness or something to be avoided. But, having emotions is part of what makes us people. Right now we’re all consumed by a lot of negative emotions, like fear, stress, loneliness, worry, and anxiety. Thankfully, there are just as many if not more positive emotions we can feel. Tap into them, most come through action. Do a kind deed for someone else to feel good, make someone laugh and you’ll laugh too. See how it works?
- Laughter
- Smiles
- Curiosity
- Joy
- Kindness
- Compassion
- Attraction
- Passion
- Happiness
- Belly Laughs
- Safety
- Peace
- Forgiveness
- Love
- Pride
- Ecstasy
- Hope
- Serenity
- Generosity
- Inspiration
- Motivation
- Giggles
- Pleasure
- Forgiveness
- Purpose
- Surprise
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Thanksgiving Quotes for Friends and Family
Foods and Delightful Things to be Grateful For
What’s your favorite good? What flavors are a delight to you? From sweet and salty, to spicy and savory, there are so many aromas and tastes to delight your senses. No matter your diet or food preferences there’s got to be the one dish that makes everything all right. Whether it’s your mom’s cooking or grandma’s secret sauce, there are dishes that define you. What foods are you thankful for?
- Being able to savor every bite
- Freshly cooked food
- Something just out of the oven
- Eating dessert first
- Spoiling your dinner
- Chocolate
- Candy and sweets
- Freshly baked bread
- Homemade pasta
- Croissants and danishes
- Melt in your mouth donuts
- Macaroons from Paris
- All types of dumplings
- Bag of your favorite chips
- Hand-cut fries
- Happy hour
- Free Samples at Costco
- Loose-leaf Tea
- Hot Cocoa
- Drinking from a fresh-cut coconut
- Pancakes and Waffles
- Lattes, Cappuccinos, and Expressos
- Fresh Apple Pie
- Stone Oven Pizza
- Montreal Bagels
- A strong drink
- Authentic Tacos
- Hot Sauce
- Curries and Spices
- Bowl of Cereal
- Guacamole and Salsa
- Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Dips and Spreads
- Hamburgers and Sandwiches
- Pickles and olives
- Finger foods and tapas
- Chicken Soup with you’re sick
- Just out of the oven cookies
- Movie theatre popcorn
- Anything barbecued
- Bottomless sodas
- All types of noodles
- Seafood anything
- Marshmallows
- Fresh fruit
- Cheese
- Maple syrup
- Sushi and handrolls
- Seafood paella
- Ice cream sandwiches
- Sugar cones and toppings
- Popsicles and freezies
- Farm to table crops
- Fast food of all kinds
- Frozen foods
- Gluten-free options
- Vegan and vegetarian dishes
Things to be Grateful for at Work, School, and Home
Be Thankful At Work For
Love it or hate it, we all need to work. With new challenges being faced in an already stressful workplace, take a moment to just be thankful for all that your job offers and affords you. Working day in and day out can cause you to become resentful of your employment, especially if you’re in a toxic work environment. You can, however, at any time take back the joy of your job. You have the power to do that if you change your mindset about it.
- Your desk
- Work best friend
- Office parties
- Vacation days
- Statutory holidays
- Working from home
- Going into the office
- Getting a promotion
- Break time
- Watercooler talk
- Your first real job
- Free work phone
- Email autoresponder
- Writing off expenses
- Getting paid
- Being a team member
- Your lunch hour
- Company culture
- Collaboration
- Landing a client
- Your hideout
- Coffee runs
- Leaving work on time
- Earning a raise
- Private bathroom
- Rooftop views
- Elevators and escalators
- Work Trips
- Conferences and events
- Taking time off
- Free parking
- Your career
- Great coworkers
- Work-life balance
- Being challenged
- Free coffee and drinks
- Your boss or team lead
- Fancy boardrooms
- Slack and messenger
- The ability to quit
- Fridays
- Day Offs
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Gratitude Quotes for a Happy Thanksgiving
Things to Appreciate About School
There are two types of students, those who love school and those who don’t. No matter where you are on that spectrum, especially about online learning, there are so many things to be thankful for about school. From life lessons learned and opportunities achieved, going to school is a privilege to be appreciated.
- Favorite teacher
- New school supplies
- Fresh textbook
- That pen you love
- Getting an A
- Studying with Friends
- Snow Day
- Classes being canceled
- Living on Campus
- Roommates
- Weekends
- Reading Week
- March Break
- Spell check
- Time away from Parents
- Freedom
- Learning new things
- Clubs and societies
- School Spirit
- Passing notes
- Sneaking snacks in class
- New experiences
- Meeting new people
- Finding your major
- Getting to class on time
- Free Wi-Fi
- Improving your grades
- Typing notes up on a laptop
- Going home for the holidays
- Having clean laundry
- Home-cooked meal
- Vending machines
- Skipping class
- Library and resources
- Energy drinks
- Labs and technology available
- Changing your Major
- Getting into the class you wanted
- Opportunities for advancement
👉🏽 RELATED POST: Thank You Quotes for Teachers
Be Thankful at Home For
Home, the place you live, sleep and most likely work and or go to school in. Home has become a lot of places these days. It’s also the place where you have so much to be thankful for. More than just the simple things, your home is filled with things that make you feel safe and secure. Think about that, if you’re reading this you are likely one of the lucky people on planet earth who has somewhere safe to live. Be grateful for that in hard times!
- The roof over your head
- Bed and pillows
- Sweet dreams at night
- A bed to sleep in
- Hairdryer
- Flat iron and curler
- A good night’s sleep
- Hitting snooze
- Freshly washed Sheets
- Sleeping in
- Breakfast in bed
- Waking up before you alarm
- Blankets and throws
- Feeling carpet on your feet
- Toothpaste and mouthwash
- Running water
- Flushing toilets
- Hair products
- Sprinklers
- Deodorant
- Food in the fridge
- Coffee maker or kettle
- Washer and dryer
- Dishwasher
- Comfy couch
- Power naps
- Pets
- House plants
- Spending time with family
- Living room
- Sofa and cushions
- Having people over
- Dinner parties
- Cupboards and storage
- Your wardrobe
- Microwave
- Shoe collection
- Bubble baths
- Hot showers
- Cuddles and kisses
- Fresh laundry
- Breakfast for dinner
- Vacuums or central vac
- Comfy clothes
- Safety and security
- Alarm System
- Being tucked in
- Goodnight kisses
Find Gratitude in the Past, Present, and Future
Be Thankful for in the Past
In many ways, we are our past. Our life is a story of all that’s happened to us. We can take that as an opportunity to grow or to not. You can let it limit you or set you free, even when it’s uncomfortable and hard. There is a healthy way to appreciate the past, while still living in the present. Enjoy this list of things to be thankful for in your past.
- Childhood memories
- Seeing Old photographs
- Long lost friends
- Finding old Yearbooks
- Old recordings
- Getting tucked in as a kid
- Bedtime stories
- The first time you were scared
- Sneaking out of bed
- Social media memories
- Bad school photos
- A walk down memory lane
- Reminiscing
- Feeling Nostalgic
- Rewatching Old Movies
- Learning to tie your shoes
- Lessons your parents taught you
- Friend requests from past friends
- Growing up with siblings or cousins
- Getting in trouble
- Items from childhood
- Ability to donate or giveaway
- Still having your Favorite toys
- Using your imagination
- Discovering your heritage
- Fitting into jeans from 10 years ago
- When things come back in style
- Hearing your favorite band on the radio
- Reunion concerts and tours
- Eating food from childhood
- Remembering the good old days
- Sacrifices your parents made
- Listening to oldies or throwback stations
- Running into people you used to know
- Retelling stories of the past
- Reading old journals and diaries
- High School and class reunions
- Your parents telling you stories
- Thinking about your first love
- Remembering heartbreaks
- Past disappointments
- Learning about your ancestors
- Catching up with old friends
Find Gratitude in the Present
You’re still here, you are right here, right now. Take a deep breath and appreciate that. Be thankful for the things holding you up and allowing you to experience life. Nothing is always as bad as it seems, there is good all around you. Open your eyes, use your senses, and just be thankful for all of it.
- Waking up today
- The oxygen in your lungs
- Gravity holding you in place
- Being on planet earth
- Sense of smell
- Your mind and cognition
- Being able to see
- Ability to read
- Thinking and thoughts
- Your health
- Feeling and touching
- Hearing and sounds
- Today’s weather
- All that you have
- Your immune system
- Who you are
- Being alive
- That you’re here
- Seeing colors
- The health of family and friends
- Clothes you’re wearing
- Last thing you ate
- Opportunities to change
- Extended family
- That this is not the end
Things to be Thankful in The Future For
Be appreciative of what is yet to come! The future is not written as yet, it is determined by your actions today. What steps can you take to make the future brighter and better for you and those around you? You have power, you have potential and you can make anything possible. Get inspired and motivated today about your future. I know that I am.
- Setting goals
- Making future plans
- Being motivated to change
- Becoming your best self
- Achieving your goals
- Making progress today
- Dreaming about the future
- Seeing your dreams come true
- Believing you can do it
- All the good things coming your way
- Finding a new passion
- Having hope for the future
- Checking things off your to-do list
- Being excited for what’s next
- Tomorrow is a brand new day
- Checking things off your bucket list
And All the Life Lessons You’ve Learned
You’ll live and learn. You’ll make mistakes and learn from there. That’s what life is all about, growth and change. There are so many life lessons that you should be grateful for, whether you’ve learned them as yet or not. These are just a few, what life lessons are you thankful for?
- Being completely unique
- Growing as a person
- Learning from past mistakes
- Having opportunities
- Becoming more open-minded
- Changing your mind
- New beginnings
- Being whoever you want to be
- You are more than enough
- Changing your life for the better
- Making small changes
- Finding something you love
- Being passionate
- Moving on from your past
- Yours have to love yourself first
- Getting out of debt
- Hard work pays off
- Becoming your best self
- The wisdom that comes with experience
- Nothing is a waste of time
- The setbacks are setups
- Failure is just feedback
Free 30-Day Gratitude Journal
Need help figuring out what things you are thankful for? Get your FREE Printable Gratitude Journal, with 30 days of self-reflection prompts.
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As impossible as it might seem through all of this, we have new reasons to be thankful.
To be honest, they were always there, but we’re more aware of these simple daily delights, everyday miracles, and blessings beyond measure are essential to getting through the day (especially the hard ones).
I hope this article helps you to start seeing life with your gratitude glasses on!
What should you be thankful for today? Click here for 500 things to be grateful for every day, no matter what, with gratitude examples for work, home, and school. #Gratitude #Thankful #Grateful #Thanksgiving
What things are you thankful for today?
Last Updated on July 26, 2024
Marta says
I’m grateful for random YouTube documentaries that give me a perspective of a place outside of my own little bubble.
Heather @ US Japan Fam says
What an amazing list!! It really is about focusing on the small things sometimes! Especially with social media we can get so overwhelmed with the “perfect” lives some people are living and it is just not the way to live, lusting after stuff like that! Not to mention the doom and gloom of elections and covid and all that can really get you down too! I’m thankful for my 3 kids, that we finally moved out of our shoebox home in NYC to a big house in the burbs, thankful for trees and flowers, Pandora music, semi permanent hair dye to gimme a new color every few months – the little things that bring me joy every day!
Nadalie Bardo says
Thanks so much, Heather and Marta! It really is an extensive list of things to be thankful for. I also LOVE documentaries and the little things like time with loved ones.
sara says
thanks so much this site was really helpful and by the way i am grateful for my parents and friends, a roof over my head, food and water, my health, a cozy home and internet access.
jenna says
Ohhh, I love this so much! We have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Jenna,
Isn’t there? When things get hard it’s way too easy to forget that there are even more than 500 things to be thankful for.
Amber Myers says
You have such a great list here! I will keep them in mind when I feel down.
Nadalie Bardo says
Hey Amber,
So happy to hear you’re loving this gratitude list! I know I’m coming back to it almost daily this year.
Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS says
Such an amazing list and great reminder of things not to take for granted.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Jen,
I’m so glad you love them. Yes! There are definitely a lot of things to be grateful for. Thanks for reading.
Rosemary says
Wow, just reading this amazing list makes me realize just how much I have to be grateful for. Thanks for the perspective!!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Rosemary,
Glad I could be of help. There are definitely a lot of things to be grateful for. Even the little things or just simply waking up in the morning everyday is something we should be happy and thankful for. Thanks for reading.
Bella says
There are legit so many things to be thankful and grateful for, I love this list so much.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Bella,
I’m so glad you love them. Agreed, there are just so many things we should be grateful for. Thanks for reading!
Amber S Battishill says
Love this huge list! Practicing gratitude, for the big and small things, is so important and can lead to so much more happiness and appreciation.
It's All You Boo says
Hey Amber,
I’m so glad you love them! Creating a list of things that we need to be grateful for is very important to keep us more positive, humbled and grounded. Stay happy and grateful and good luck on your journey to success.
Sarah Althouse says
I’m so grateful for the crisp autumn days right now too!
It's All You Boo says
Hey Sarah,
Same here! Crisp autumn days are truly something we should be grateful for. Thanks for reading.
Rose Ann Sales says
Your post made me realize how lucky humanity still is. We still got most of the things in Earth. We just have to learn to bend a little to still enjoy life.
It's All You Boo says
Glad you found some silver lining! You’re right, gratitude can go a long way.
Emman Damian says
There’s so much to be thankful and grateful about. We have to be optimistic and check the simple things that we have. It’s all about contentment too.
Emman Damian says
And to add, we need to be more appreciative of small things. It starts with being content with the things that we have now. Always improve yourself too.
Melissa Cushing says
I just love this post and yes… being grateful is so important! I have a Gratitude Binder that I use each morning… to help get me in the right state of mind for the day as it starts my day off on a positive note.
It's All You Boo says
Hi Melissa,
It’s great that you have that Gratitude Binder! Starting the day on a positive note is a must!
Melissa Cushing says
I just love this post and appreciate so may reasons to be grateful. It really is about focusing on the positives and looking for the good rather than the opposite 😉
It's All You Boo says
You are so right, Melissa! Focusing on the positives is what we need right now to overcome stress and anxiety.