Most of us, when life is going smoothly, forget to notice our good fortune.

We race from one task to the next, rarely pausing to take in what’s actually going right.

It’s only when we’re confronted with difficulty—a loss, an illness, a scare—that we remember to feel grateful.

But learning to live with the lens of gratitude before crisis hits is one of the most powerful habits you can build.

Because gratitude isn’t just an emotion, it’s a practice.

A muscle.

A way of seeing.

For me, that practice started early. My dad was a deeply grateful man — he had a quiet way of appreciating the simple things in life.

But my own gratitude muscle really strengthened after nearly losing my life at 24, surviving a family car accident years later, and more recently, helping Shawn navigate his health struggles, which we have been able to put in the rear-view mirror.

In every chapter, gratitude has been the habit that’s kept me going.

I got to talk to my friend Adam Growe about it on the radio recently. He is best known as the host of Cash Cab Canada and for his work as host on Boom 97.3 radio, where he features “Tell Me Something Good” on the show. You can listen here.

Like play, the habit of gratitude doesn’t need to happen all at once. You can sprinkle it throughout your day — with intention, awareness, and practice.

How can you practice the habit of gratitude in your life?  

• Take a few deep breaths before your first sip of coffee and say, thank you for this moment.
• Go for a walk and notice one thing you might usually overlook — the colour of the leaves, the sound of your feet on the ground.
• Send a short message to someone who’s made your life a little brighter.

Gratitude, like movement, compounds over time.

The more you practice, the more it shifts your mindset…from scarcity to abundance, from stress to presence, from “what’s next” to “what’s now.”

As we head into Thanksgiving, I want to say this: I’m grateful for you for reading, sharing, and continuing to explore your own journey toward health, vitality, and play.

Wishing you a weekend filled with appreciation for the small, fleeting moments that make life meaningful.

Play on!

Coach Jan xo