Favorite Things, Home, Life, Soul Homework, Writing

365 grateful days of 2025

Kari

this post started after reading a friend’s blog in 2023, which reminded me of my daily gratitude journal and how small things add up. i wanted to see what would happen if i wrote down a few good things each day for a whole year—not to show off, but to anchor myself through life as it actually was.

yeah. what the hell bob dylan said.

every year i hesitate before sharing this post. not because things weren’t worth being grateful for, but because i never want gratitude to sound like denial. life isn’t tidy. grief doesn’t disappear because something good happens. pain doesn’t cancel out joy, and joy doesn’t erase pain.

over the course of 2025, i wrote down a few small things each day that helped me stay tethered to life as it actually was. some days it was meaningful and deep. other days it was a clean house before bed, a good omelette, or simply the relief of getting through the day.

and while these start out as something personal, sharing them feels like an act of generosity. a way of saying that life’s goodness can coexist with its pain, and that we’re allowed to find it in the middle of our own messiness.

this is my list of 365 of those moments.

365 grateful days of 2025

january

a new year. yacht rock documentary. distractions. special k candy. ella pushing herself outside her comfort zone. lunch with ella and melanie. a clean house before bed. walking around target with rebecca. sunny days. mom giving me the print i remember from andrew lane. memories. lunch with everyone for ella’s birthday. catching a migraine in time. perspective. a really good book. ella making homemade mac and cheese. reading old blog posts and feeling inspired by them. a strawberry shake from mcdonald’s. catching up on real housewives. mom’s homemade chili. a day to not have anywhere to be. new pens. mike having the courage to apply within his company. ella’s therapist. one day at a time mentality. a really good book that changed my perspective. aleve. chatgpt for health issues. instacart. dina’s excitement over a candy crush gift card. my friendship with rebecca.

february

pb and j on toast. monthly massages. sleeping five straight hours. mom’s shoulder (and spirit) getting better each day. rebecca sending me positive political news every week. mike going to depaul games again. little things to look forward to. biscuits gentle soul. getting to see cara. having enough energy to show up for others. eckhart tolle’s books. ella cutting mom’s hair in her kitchen. anna coming up after work for dinner. mom’s neighbor snow blowing her driveway. a really good denver omelette. mike picking out valentine gifts for the girls when i wasn’t able to. talking through emotions at kristen’s. sage candles and spray. celtic salt. door dash and white lotus with ella after school. our broken windshield being repaired for free. a late afternoon nap with the puppies. a good visit with my migraine doctor. kenji and our convo about reiki. the way dina and i nerd out over candy crush. all the signs from dad. 55 and sun two days in a row. time off social media.

march

lunch and shopping with melanie. yoga, reiki, edible, sleep. dinner out with kristen and tony. homemade shepherds pie. my body waking me up naturally early so i have time for soul homework. daylight savings is on sunday! icy hot and heating pads. how beautiful our home is when it’s filled with sunshine. how a trip to costco makes my mom and me so excited. anna birthday dinner at plateia. a walk at the forest preserve and boba after. yoga for the neck. cheerios with banana and milk. really friendly staff at urgent care. hearing all sorts of birds outside with open windows. meeting someone who reminds me of a loved one who passed. coffee shops. mom’s irish dinner and how much love she puts into it. snuggling with the dogs at bedtime. getting a pt eval quickly. things to look forward to. crying in the car while blasting music. cardinals singing in the backyard. soul homework in a calm house. a quiet spring break. snuggling with grandkitttyy. watching the sunset with the dogs. talks and laughter with mom in the car. feeling connected to my blog friends. how much ella loves animals. finishing a really good book. friday night fish fry.

april

birthday month! trying to not give a shit. how the universe works. reiki with andrea. breakfast with rebecca. sweet and salty sundae at greg’s. sunday dinner at mom’s. my neck is feeling better. aldi. trying new things. tiktok comment sections. my kids. mike. restorative yoga with melanie. having coffee with dina, her mom, and mom. the sound of our wind chimes. hearing cardinals everywhere now. conversations with mike in the evenings. our yard critters. lunch at triangle with kristen and ez. our local mexican restaurant. fresh starts. the trees are budding and blooming. a good chicken caesar salad. walking around a new grocery store with mom- it makes me feel like i did when i was little. watching the planes land at ohare with anna and mike. lou’s pizza. 78 degrees on my birthday. golden hour. an evening walk with ella.

may

writing time alone in the house. getting to see a peaceful protest. grieving over a hamster (rip dustin). ella’s caring heart. funny bumper stickers. crying as release of emotion. saying no. plane finder app. lunch alone with ella. crystal shops with good energy. meeting melissa for breakfast and having a good cry. getting to celebrate mothers day with my mom. writing my stories and the healing it provides. feeling less alone. mike being okay after an er visit. listening to ella work in the kitchen from the other room. biscuits gotcha day. missing an old friend. 2.5 hour nap with the dogs. hearing a forgotten song. feeling motivated again. my new shoes. looking through old photos with mike and the girls. no school for two weeks. arby’s mac and cheese. a really nice manager at the store. watching a hummingbird at mom’s feeder. 19 years of marriage. beautiful weather all weekend. how thoughtful mike is. gardens. falling asleep on my shakti mat.

june

weekly breakfast with rebecca. sharing housewives tiktoks with bijoux. golden hour. erasure poetry. sitting on mom’s deck. feeling my feelings. ella doing my brows and cutting my bangs. yellow bird at my feeder. getting my first henna tattoo. banana bread lattes. yoga class with dina. ella advocating for herself. my friendships. realizing how early the sun rises (4:30!). how my feet feel after a pedicure. talking out my frustration to an empty chair. sleeping in. hammocks at the end of the day. i’m coming back to life. rain after drought. good news on mike’s ct scan. thai massage yoga. my new baggy pants. anna and ella looking through their keepsake bins. claritin. blogs to read. energy to clean. feeling the grief leaving my body. my little life- i love it. air conditioning.

july

my water bottle. mike playing golf in a league. falling in love with a new song. filipino fruit salad. ella excited over summer clothes. morning rituals. apples and crunchy pb. fennel essential oil. getting nine hours of sleep. first zinnia bloom! being humbled and not letting it destroy me. not being on facebook. aldi’s honey greek yogurt. anna’s daily phone calls. how beautiful our bushes and trees are now. gifts from the universe. mom making me acine de pepe salad. ambient music. convo-no phones all evening. cheese pizza, extra cheese. massage balls. dramamine. listening to my gut. quesobirria. horchata latte. driving with ella in late evening and it was magical outside. fresh produce. perfect days movie. gray honda pilots everywhere. sound bath playlist. sunflowers thanks to birdies.

august

my energy is improving. hallmark shops. jewel deli. fresh air. rest. our garden full of black- eyed-susans. anna deciding to follow her dream. the first sip of coffee. eating lunch with mom. homemade spaghetti. thursday morning yoga. selling alaska show. funny you tube videos. listening to ella’s funny stories about her australian friends. ella’s australian friends. prolific studies and the side money it provides. realizations while in pain. the little things. no cavities. celebrating mom’s birthday with all of us plus my brother. trees. a card from the past. a really good sandwich. no headache for six days! so many good books on my table. little rituals and routines. slow living. dinner out with cara. how excited the dogs get when anna comes home. elote. finding an iga store.

september

ella practicing driving and finally enjoying it. the little grocery store in paddock lake. mike’s sense of humor. fresh seal coating. hearing about mom’s childhood. ella meeting a friend at orientation. door county coffee. anna’s dreams coming to life. ella loves her job. dinner at anna and marc’s. pinterest. texting anna late at night and she’s also awake. distractions from the american shitshow. learning new things. the hostess at the mcdonald’s in bannockburn. new slippers. lemon cheesecake ice cream. flu shots are covered by insurance. protecting my peace. working in the yard. impromptu costco run. dad came to mom in a dream. rotolo from saluto’s. ella and her friendships. the smell at a dispensary. answered wishes. mike’s glp-1 is finally covered by insurance. a big salad. it’s autumn. dad is everywhere.

october

date night with mike at mars cheese castle. health insurance. yoga twice in one day. good healthcare. a new day. home goods with mom and anna. weekend soul homework means more time. sunshine for two weeks straight. eating dinner along the chicago river with mike. sound baths. open windows all day. dreams that feel real. migraine medication. journaling. mike and i taking an afternoon nap together. mike taking care of me when i’m sick. feeling better than yesterday. took a normal poop. little big things. healing my inner child. chilly weather. homemade soup. redirection. mike getting home safely. anna got the job! homemade basque cheesecake. our backyard maples. a beautiful trick-or-treat day to sit outside. a good sub sandwich. getting a gi appointment in less than a week. french bread pizza and housewives.

november

this daily practice. making an old favorite for dinner. visiting with william and dana. pumpkin pancakes. anna’s training start is after the holidays. ella getting to neenah and back safely. i felt like my dad today-an action he would do. a lazy sunday. solutions to perceived problems. biscuits curling into my legs in child’s pose. 52 degrees feels like summer now. jello with pomegranate. ella’s chocolate chip muffin cake. my little family. seeing a difference in myself. metamucil. one day at a time. the hippie pot pie restaurant. clean carpets. cadbury hard shell eggs. our new kitchen curtains. seeing outside the box. where i live. costco cinnamon rolls are back! a peaceful thanksgiving. watching stranger things with ella and mike. mri is done. appetizers and games at mom’s. christmas tree lights.

december

i’m eating chocolate again! bernie is doing better after er visit. ella making pretzel kisses while telling us about her day. a fun day in the city with anna and marc. ordering groceries online. our friendship with bernie and rebecca. beef and noodles. melanie here for lunch. tikok. good news. “burping” the house every day. conversations with ella on the way to school. the way my mom makes christmas time special. the beautiful morning sky. no acid reflux tonight. ella done with finals early. rolo cookies. this healing year. sarah and her nail service. ella getting to hold hailey’s baby. hope. how much my girls love christmas. the best cinnamon rolls i’ve ever made. my blog friends (i wish you lived closer). talking things through with mike. thrifting in the city. little white lights on rainy days. our sweet yard birds.

you can read past grateful days posts here:

365 grateful days of 2023

366 grateful days of 2024

@breebiz7

A lost art but the one we need the most right now. We don’t need more things, we need more sunshine, more trees; and the most important of all, the art of noticing. #perfectday #grateful #simplelifestyle #god #godfirst

♬ original sound – Fam U – Fam U

if you haven’t seen perfect days yet, i highly recommend it.

thank you chris for recommending it last year. 💜

and here are two blog posts you might enjoy:

100 Things That Made My Year | 2025 Edition – elsie green

My Year of Writing Dangerously – by Summer Brennan (the inspiration for this series)

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62 thoughts on “365 grateful days of 2025”

  1. Awww….I’m honored to make the list! Also, I am so happy to see you post this week. While reading all this good stuff, I realized my post tomorrow is all about the negative, but I hope people will find the humor in it, because everyday life can be so ridiculous.

    Some of my favorites of your gratefulness:

    The Yacht Rock documentary – I think about it when I’m listening to the Sirius station.

    Sleeping five hours straight – I am finally achieving that with the help of Estrodial. I only have to get up once per night now.

    Anything regarding warm temperatures, I am here for. I’m dreaming about 78 degrees in April.

    Falling in love with a new song – I am loving Hula Girl (The Neighbourhood) right now.

    That photo of Chicago is stunning! Thank you for spreading some sunshine into my dreary Monday. XOXO

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    1. I’m grateful for you, my friend.

      I laughed when you said your post is negative. I’ll publish a negative one on Monday for balance—how’s that? 😊

      Thanks to Mike, I now like Yacht Rock.

      OMG, that’s amazing! Who knew sleeping heavily could be so appreciated?

      I AM TOO. This winter is really wintery.

      OOH—I’ll check that song out! My new song is an old song: Where to Begin by My Morning Jacket.

      Thank you—I took it with my phone!

      It’s dreary here too—we had a snow shower all morning and another one last night. When will April get here… 😘💜

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  2. It’s nice to have these kinds of memories preserved. It’s nice, looking back at memories and good times.

    I like your Dylan quote – I will endeavour to be more grateful regarding the things I don’t have that I don’t want.

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  3. Currently craving a strawberry McDonalds milkshake and a large salad not from McDonalds. I’ve been struggling with what to include in my (too tiny) ONE LINE A DAY diary that I write in before sleep, adding one simple line of gratitude sounds like a very good use of space.

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    1. I think you should get yourself one of each very soon. Consider this your sign.

      I also keep a one‑line‑a‑day diary—actually, I have three. I’ve been using them since around 2010. I don’t stick to just one line; I treat them like a tiny daily diary, so I definitely broke the rules. You could absolutely use it for gratitude.

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  4. This was so comforting to read because it’s always the little things that make my days so much better. I loved that video of “the art of being grateful,” thank you for sharing these. 💌

    I’ve never taken the time to write down the things I’m grateful for. I think it’s time to give my teeny tiny pocket notebook some use.

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    1. I’m so glad the video resonated with you! The little things really do make such a difference.

      And yes—your pocket notebook is perfect for this. Even just jotting down a few tiny things each day can make a big impact. You’ll love looking back on it over time.

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  6. I love this so much, Kari. I wanted to list my favourite parts and then realized that they were all my favourite parts. It’s such a good practice, writing down one thing and then compiling them at the end of the year. It doesn’t cancel out grief or sadness, but it does lift up the spirit to see things, big and little, to be grateful for.

    I have a one-line-a-day journal and I usually just put in what happened that day, which means it’s kind of boring but also kind of neat to see what happened over the past five years. Maybe I should get a separate journal just for gratitude! I really liked reading this.

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    1. I love that you loved it, Nicole. This post has become my favorite one to put together and write each year, as you can imagine.

      I also keep a one‑line‑a‑day journal, which is always fun to look back on. My family loves when I tell them what we were doing five years ago on this day. My dad used to do things like that, and I guess I’m the one carrying it on now. 💜

      I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it. That truly made me happy.

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  7. I’m so impressed that you do this! The optimist in me loves the idea, but I have to say, you’re the only person I’ve ever known who has been grateful for Daylight Saving Time.

    Apparently we’re twins, because If I were keeping my own list, I’m pretty sure that Denver Omelette I had in June would make the cut. It was good enough for me to blog about at the time.

    Falling in love with a new song is always such a great feeling!

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    1. I do love a longer day, even if I’m exhausted for a week. 🤣

      I completely understand writing a blog post about a good omelette. And now I want to go back and read where you got it, because Denver omelette.

      It really is such a good feeling!

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  13. This list is AMAZING! I have so many questions and comments.
    1) Your headaches sound horrible. I love, though, to hear about your small health triumphs, in part because they remind me of mine. In most part because they are your triumphs.
    2) How do you keep this practice – a special app or just a notes app? I want to do this.
    3) You have SO MANY special people in your life. I hope you’re cognizant of that. You see them all the time! I am lucky to see an acquaintance in person (other than my husband) once a week, and that’s a *lucky* week. Revel in your social connections, my online friend.

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    1. I love questions!

      My migraines were pretty horrible for a long time, but they’re manageable now. When you wrote about chronic illness the other day, I really related. I’ve been dealing with migraines since 2005, and during perimenopause it was especially brutal. I felt invisible within the healthcare system.

      I only write in a simple spiral notebook I grab at the store. It’s just a habit now. If it lived on my phone, I’d probably forget. Because I get up early and do my soul homework—about 30 minutes of journaling, reading, and quiet time every day—I remember to do it.

      I’m very lucky. My circle is actually pretty small by choice, even if it looks big in this post, but the people in my life are kind, loving, and steady. This practice helps me really see what I have, so thank you for pointing that out. I was going through something very isolating a few weeks ago and felt so alone. Then I read your comment and thought—you’re right. 😘💜

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      1. I’ve always been curious about your soul homework.

        Don’t you dare feel isolated for one minute with that list of people you connect with in such important ways.

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      2. That’s so funny — I was just thinking about your comment this morning! And here you commented again today. We’re connected in some way. 💜

        You’re so right, and I appreciate your comment so much because it lifted me out of that funk really quickly.

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  14. I used to do a form of this by jotting down Good Things on coloured slips of paper anytime they happened (or I thought of them) and put them in a big jar. On New Year’s Eve, I’d pull them out and read them aloud to remind me of the best parts of the year.

    So many of these could be included in my own Good Things. In a time when things look bleak, this exercise might be a good one to resurrect.

    It’s gratifying to see you mention people among your Gratitudes, and not just family. I am finding that there are more and more people showing Kindness as I move through my small life these days. Let’s hope that this is the start of a Movement, and one that will mean real change.

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    1. Oh, Nance, this is such a wonderful idea. I love it so much. This post reminds me of pulling out the slips of paper—since I started in 2023, I go through my year written down and pick one from each day. It’s such a joy to relive all the goodness I’d forgotten was there.

      My first year, I didn’t include names, and the next year I wanted to list them because I was healing after my dad’s death. I wanted to honor all the people who guided me through that year, especially since I was so numb. When I looked back at that gratitude list this year while writing this post, I realized I’d forgotten so much of what I’d written. I’m so grateful—for this blog, this practice, and for those people. 💜

      Let’s hope.

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  15. ” a way of saying that life’s goodness can coexist with its pain.”

    Kari, you nailed it! I learned many, many years ago that if my life would finally become all nice and tidy, and I got everything I wanted, my life would be ideal. NOT. What I also learned is that when life whips the crap out of my life like a tornado, if I can focus on all the “gold” I already have in my life, THAT’S wealth.

    Now mind you, it’s not always easy. However, in looking back over my life, it was in those not-so-easy times, I not only learned the most. But I also learned that life is constantly changing, so if I wait for it to be “ideal”, I’ll be waiting for the rest of my life.

    Since turning 70 in October, I decided that this next decade for me is going to be all about GRATITUDE. And that no matter what happens, I’m going to do my best to embrace everything that happens and GROW from it.

    Such an INSPIRING post, my friend! Thank you for sharing your knowledge because in do so, you help others.

    Have a faaaaaaaabulous week! X

    P.S. I LOVE that photo of downtown Chicago along the river. GORGEOUS!

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    1. YES. Sitting with the pain, learning to live with it, and finding the good alongside it is real wealth. So true.

      You’re right—it’s not easy. It takes a lot of real-life practice (LOL). We’re going through something challenging right now, and it’s hard. But if I wait for it to feel safer, easier, or less scary, I’ll never be happy. I have to find the happy within this, or it will eat me alive.

      I love that you decided to focus on gratitude. More will come when you thank the universe for what it’s giving you.

      Have a fabulous week as well, my dear friend.

      I took it with my phone, and I love it. 💜

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  18. I love that you were so consistent with keeping track of all the little things you were grateful for in a year. I keep a gratitude journal, but I only write in it sporadically. And yes, you are in it. :-) I’m glad that I make an appearance in your gratitude lists, too. It seriously warms my heart to know that. I love you, my dear friend.

    xoxo

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    1. In a year when I gave up so many of the things that made me feel good, like yoga, I’m really glad this practice has stayed.

      I love knowing I’m in your gratitude journal, friend. That truly warms my heart. I’m so grateful for you and your friendship. I love you too. 💜😘

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  19. I struggled with “Chronicles” but that is a great quote – even if (typically Dylan) it’s somewhat hard to get your head round! 😂

    What a lovely load of things to be grateful for. I’ve just starting to set myself a bullet journal up to help me with regular chores and also getting the big things done, but I mustn’t forget to pick out a gratitude journal too – thanks for the reminder Kari 🩷

    Questions I have to ask: what is a Denver omelette and a Filipino salad?

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    1. Right? I feel like he’s a bit hard to understand, but he makes so much sense. 🤣

      A bullet journal is such a wonderful idea!

      A Denver omelette has ham, cheese, green pepper, and onion. And the Filipino salad I’m talking about is a fruit salad my dear friend Rebecca gave me the recipe for decades ago. I made it this summer because I was craving it—various canned fruits like peaches, fruit cocktail, and pineapple mixed with condensed milk and cream cheese. It’s delicious.

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  20. I LOVE this! …taking a peak into the events, people, and things that were significant enough to jot down. What a lovely thing to do. I actually read it twice so I could capture everything. I need to do this. Everyone should do this…

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    1. I’m so glad you loved it—and that you read it twice! That makes sharing it feel really worth it. I look forward to my gratitude journal every day, and I agree with you, Judy—everyone could benefit from this. It really shows how much is already wonderful in our lives.

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  21. Kari. A great list. I’m in a valley albeit being at peak for most of the month. Idk, the end of the month and the end of the marking period at the school, Tony is away in business this week… I’m floundering. Also, changes in my district. A new principal, and a new grading policy district-wide.

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    1. I hear you, Daria. January has been a tough month for so many reasons, and the weather doesn’t help. It makes sense that all these changes and Tony being away would leave you feeling flustered. I’m holding space for you in this valley—you’re not alone.

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  22. This is the kind of journaling that I need to add into my life!

    And I also believe you sharing this is an act of generosity. So many things to be thankful for, to enjoy and to cherish.

    The henna is a work of art.

    I love seeing the bits and pieces of both your young ladies doing well, thriving, and enjoying life. XO

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    1. I’m so glad! It feels like it doesn’t ask much of me—just jotting down a few things each day. Lately it’s felt a lot harder, but even if I can write down just one thing, the point is that there was good in every day, no matter how hard.

      I loved that henna so much. I was watching our Real Housewives the other night (Beverly Hills) and when they were in Sedona, I noticed some of the women had henna tattoos. 💜

      They’re following their hearts, and that makes my heart happy.

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  23. I love your lists, Kari. So many points of connection between your life and mine. I think I appreciate the comments as much as the post. In this dark time, it is good to see so many ordinary folks finding points of light. We sure do need them. So grateful that you keep casting yours back out into the world.

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    1. I absolutely love that we connect so much through the way we live our lives. I appreciate your comments so much—they’re really why I keep writing. I would’ve stopped long ago if it weren’t for you and others, even in the dark. Your presence here, and this connection, mean everything to me. 😘🩷

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