Editor’s Note

Dear World,

A few years ago (lost track of the exact date), A DM from Richelle came in and her message was something along the lines of her sharing how much she was grateful for the content being written on the blog at the time. She followed us, engaged with our content and became more than just a follower. Outside of friends and family who really know the creator and curator of this space, Richelle was the first heavily engaged stranger.

She didn’t remain a stranger. We follow her and the content she puts out as well! Outside of this space, she and our creator have previously interacted and worked together. Richelle happily accepted an invitation to be interviewed on at least two occasions about the experience of the disabled community in the occurrence of climate change events and others that may be classified as natural disasters. They haven’t, yet, met in person, but we are hopeful that it will happen sooner than later.

So, cheers to Richelle on her first guest blog post in this Suburban Guest series. In this guest visit. she focuses on gratitude. Thank you, Richelle.

Though the messages written, edited, and shared by Suburban Guests may resonate with The Suburban Girl JA®, they are not our own and they do not necessarily reflect the thoughts and ideals we value.

Signed,

The Suburban Girl JA®

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“There is calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy” – Ralph H. Blum

Ever Since I have come to know myself, I always try living my life from a place of gratitude. 

In high school, at the end of the school year, my mom would purchase gifts for the student who went ‘out of their way’ to assist me throughout the year and when she couldn’t, I would write handwritten letters to my classmates and mentor. I enjoyed doing it though I never had the best penmanship. They were able to read it and the joy expressed on their faces was just priceless. 

Some would say, it’s my circumstance, others linked it to my faith. While both might be a factor, I give credit to my upbringing. 

My only problem was, I could not do it for everyone.

The ‘Why’ and ‘Now’

In a fast-paced world where we’re often focused on what’s next — the next goal, the next milestone, the next big thing — it’s easy to miss the beauty that’s right in front of us. What if I told you the secret to happiness isn’t in the “next” but in the now?

Gratitude is that secret. It’s a powerful tool to shift your mindset and help you find joy, not in life’s grand moments, but in its everyday simplicity.

Gratitude isn’t about ignoring life’s challenges; it’s about choosing to notice the blessings that exist alongside them. It’s about training your mind to focus on the abundance you already have instead of what you feel is missing.

The Joy in Life’s Simple Moments

Think about the little things that make you smile. Maybe it’s twittering birds in the morning or the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Perhaps it’s the way sunlight dances through your window or the feeling of sand between your toes on a warm beach day.

These are the moments that gratitude helps you embrace they ‘why’ and ‘now’. They’re small, often fleeting, but they hold immense power to bring joy when you take the time to notice them.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that life isn’t built on monumental achievements; it’s made up of small, beautiful moments strung together. And when you start paying attention to those moments, life begins to feel a lot more meaningful.

Richelle T. Henry

Gratitude Changes Everything

Life is far from perfect, and there will always be challenges. However, gratitude has a way of shifting the narrative. It helps you see that even when life feels messy, there’s still beauty to be found.

When you start living with gratitude, you stop waiting for happiness to arrive someday and start experiencing it today. Afterall, it has the power to transform your world — one small moment at a time. It’s in the sunrise you didn’t rush past, the quiet moment of reflection, or the laughter shared with a loved one.

Remember that joy or happiness isn’t reserved for the grand moments; it’s often hidden in the smallest ones. So, take a moment today to pause, breathe, and appreciate what’s good in your life — right now.

If you have never done it, don’t know how, or need a reminder, here are some steps on how you may practice it.

How to Practice Gratitude

Cultivating gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about creating small habits that help you shift your focus and appreciate what’s good in your life.

Start a Gratitude Journal: Write down three things you’re thankful for every day. They can be as small as a kind word from a friend, as big as achieving a personal goal, or something grander.

Verbalise Your Thanks: Say it loudly and proudly. “I am grateful for…”. This could simply be saying thank you to someone or simply taking a moment to acknowledge the things you appreciate. This tends to make the experience even more powerful.

Be Present: Take time to pause during your day. Notice the little things — the warmth of the sun, the laughter of a child, the taste of your favourite meal.

Reframe Challenges: When life gets tough, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” or “What’s one good thing I can take away from this experience?”

Lessons from Gratitude

Gratitude isn’t just an emotion; it’s a mindset. It teaches us to shift our perspective and find light, even when life feels heavy. Here are a few lessons that gratitude has taught me which I hope you can take away:

1. Your Perspective Shapes Your Reality: Life will never be perfect, but gratitude reminds you that there’s always something good, even in the mess. Choosing to focus on the good doesn’t erase the bad, but it makes it easier to face.
2. Happiness is Here and Now: We often tell ourselves we’ll be happy when we reach a certain goal or achieve a specific milestone. Gratitude flips that script, showing us that joy isn’t something we have to chase — it’s already here, waiting to be noticed.
3. The Present Moment is a Gift: When you practice gratitude, you naturally start to live in the present. You slow down and savour the now. and in doing so, life feels richer and more fulfilling.
4. Adversity Has Hidden Gifts: Even in tough seasons, gratitude helps you find lessons and strength. Reflecting on what you’ve gained from challenging experiences can open your eyes to just how resilient you are.

To end my first visit as a Suburban Guest, the music junkie in me reminisces on one of my favorite songs from my Spotify playlist, ‘Thanks and Praise’ by Chronixx.

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Connect with Richelle on her blog: https://richellethenry.wordpress.com
LinkedIn: Richelle T Henry | Instagram @richelle_t_henry | Facebook @Richelle MsRoyal T. Henry