Count Your Blessings
I recently had a meeting with a client who has been through a lot.
Now in her late 70’s, she has faced significant health issues. She’s had to slow down. She isn’t as steady on her feet as she once was. Her speech is slower and her hands shake a bit. She is very aware that she isn’t moving through life with quite the same spunk she had many years ago when we first met.
She came to my office because she wanted to bring a wedding present for my son. We sat together and chatted for an hour. What struck me most during our conversation was not what had changed. Or what wasn’t going well.
It was how grateful she still is.
She talked about her kids and grandkids’ accomplishments. The flowers blooming in her flower boxes at home. The people in her condo association who show up for her. The small routines that still bring comfort, like church on Sunday. The things she can still do, even if they look different than they used to.
At the end of our meeting, she gave me a big hug and said, “Sweetheart, remember to always count your blessings.”
Count your blessings.
It’s an expression we’ve all heard before. It almost sounds old-fashioned, like words cross-stitched on a pillow or written on a wooden sign hanging in a grandparent’s kitchen.
But as we said our goodbyes and I watched her walk down the hall to the elevator, I thought, when do we actually count our blessings?
Not just say, “I know I have a lot to be thankful for.” But literally stop, take out a piece of paper, and count.
The next morning, I sat down with my journal. Every morning as I have a warm cup of tea, I write down three things I’m grateful for. It’s a simple practice, and it helps me start the day with a positive perspective.
But that morning, I decided I’m going to actually count my blessings.
I opened to a blank page, wrote the number one, and started writing.
The first ones came easily.
Being happily married for almost 25 years.
A clean bill of health at my recent checkup.
Spending time on Mother’s Day with my family.
Golfing on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Charlie’s upcoming wedding.
How lovable my dog Paisley is.
These first few blessings came to mind with little effort.
But then something interesting happened.
The longer I sat there, the more blessings I counted. I
The fact that my legs are strong enough to go for a 30-minute run through my neighborhood.
A call from my son at the end of his long work day, just to check in.
A refrigerator filled with healthy food prepped for the week.
So many fun concerts on the calendar for the summer.
How much my team loves and cares about our clients.
And that’s when I realized something: There are so many blessings to count, yet we don’t ever do this.
We tend to notice what is missing, broken, delayed, frustrating, or uncertain. That’s human. Our brains are wired to scan for problems because problems require action.
But blessings are quieter.
They don’t usually demand our attention.
The flowers don’t shout from the flower boxes. The morning cup of tea doesn’t wave its arms. My morning run doesn’t send me a calendar invite.
Counting your blessings forces you to slow down long enough to notice what has been sitting there all along.
And it doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect. This isn’t about ignoring the hard things.
That’s not the point. The point is perspective.
It is possible to be tired and grateful. Worried and grateful. Grieving and grateful. Frustrated and grateful. Hopeful and grateful.
Sometimes the blessings are big and obvious. And sometimes they are small enough that you might miss them if you don’t write them down:
The first tomato from the garden
A favorite song coming on at the exact right time
A neighbor who brings in your trash barrel
A body that still lets you walk, stretch, dance, garden, or climb stairs
A moment when everyone is home at the same time
None of these may sound dramatic. But added together, they become a life. Your life.
And maybe that is why the phrase has lasted so long.
“Count your blessings.” What if, instead of thinking of this as a sweet expression, we took it as an instruction?
This month, I’m inviting you to try something:
Take out a blank page.
Write the number one.
And start counting your blessings.
Don’t stop at three. Keep going past the obvious ones. See if you can get to 25. Or 50. Or keep a running list for the month of June. Add to it when something else occurs to you.
You may be surprised by how much is already there.
I keep hearing the gentle instruction from my client, and now I’m passing along her words to you:
Sweetheart, count your blessings.
Start with the obvious ones. Then stay long enough to find the ones you almost missed.
This Week’s Cool Ideas & Resources
Count Your Blessings in an App
If you like the idea of counting your blessings but want something more structured than a blank notebook, there are apps can help you build a simple gratitude practice. The takeaway: the best gratitude system is the one you’ll actually use, whether that’s paper, an app, or a running note on your phone. Check out Mindful Suite for some ideas.
The Gratitude Podcast
This podcast offers short reflections, stories, and conversations about how to bring more gratitude into daily life. The takeaway: gratitude is not just a feeling you wait for—it is something you can practice, strengthen, and return to when life feels tough. (podcasts.apple.com)
Technically Speaking
Did you know you can change your Gmail email address? Still stuck with your old college nickname, or your maiden name? You might be able to change your email and still have your old email account connect to your new one. Sign in to myaccount.google.com. Go to the Personal Info tab. Under Contact Info, select Email. Select Google Account Email. If available, click “Change Your Google Account Email” to start the process.
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