Some days, gratitude comes easily. Other days, it takes intention.
Discover how practicing daily gratitude can improve mental and physical health, reduce stress, and increase well-being with simple, research-based habits.
Whether you are living with a serious illness, caring for someone you love, grieving a loss, or simply trying to improve your well-being, gratitude is a skill that anyone can develop.
In This Episode:
- 00:00 – Intro: Why You Should Practice Gratitude Every Day
- 01:31 – What Are You Grateful For? Charlie and Marianne Answer
- 04:45 – Gratitude Dip – Recipe of the Week
- 05:20 – Practicing Gratitude – Rebalancing our Attention on What is Safe, Kind, and Beautiful Around Us
- 08:51 – Interview with Tabitha Burrill (Tabitha’s Glass Emporium) About Her Gratitude Practice
- 24:30 – “A Gift” – Katheryn Starbuck
- 25:15 – Outro with Words from Epicurus
Our Special Guest: Tabitha Burrill
Tabitha Burrill is a celebrated innovator and one of the foremost contemporary women leaders in kiln formed glass art. As the founder and creative force behind Tabitha’s Glass Emporium, she has changed the landscape of kiln-formed glass by making creativity more accessible to artists around the world.
Marianne recently traveled to Croatia to learn glass arts from Tabitha. While there she had a chance to learn how Tabitha approached her daily gratitude practice.
More about Tabitha:
Tabitha pioneered the use of vitrigraph kilns to create floral and other elaborate murrine designs—tiny, perfectly formed glass images that artists can incorporate into their own work—earning her recognition as a trendsetter in the field. Each year she expands her collections with new, imaginative ranges (such as Tropical Seas, which helped popularize under-the-sea designs across the community), continually pushing creative boundaries and inspiring makers worldwide.
Under her leadership, TGE has become the largest producer of vitrigraph murrine glass in the world, offering an extensive range of unique glass inclusions that spark imagination and make beautiful fused glass projects achievable for both beginners and experienced makers alike.
Beyond her technical innovation, Tabitha is deeply committed to education and community building. Through her popular YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, she freely shares her knowledge, demystifying glass techniques and encouraging people of all levels to explore kiln-formed glass. Locally, she supports creative growth by offering free workshops in schools and community programs—and fosters a supportive work environment with a predominantly female team, embodying her belief that “we all learn from each other: we rise together”
The Health Benefits of Daily Gratitude
Gratitude is often thought of as saying “thank you,” but it is much more than that. Gratitude is the intentional practice of noticing and appreciating the people, experiences, and everyday moments that bring value to our lives. It is a habit that anyone can develop, and research suggests that it can positively influence both mental and physical health.
Practicing gratitude does not mean pretending life is perfect or ignoring illness, grief, or hardship. Instead, gratitude allows us to hold two truths at the same time: life can be difficult, and there are still meaningful things to appreciate. This balanced perspective can help build emotional resilience without denying painful experiences.
How Gratitude Rewires the Brain and Body
Research has found that people who regularly practice gratitude often report greater life satisfaction and improved emotional well-being. Gratitude has also been associated with lower levels of stress and anxiety and a reduced likelihood of depression. Some studies have found that gratitude practices may contribute to better sleep, healthier blood pressure, fewer physical symptoms, and lower levels of inflammatory markers associated with chronic stress.
One reason gratitude may be so helpful is that our brains naturally pay more attention to potential threats than positive experiences. This tendency, sometimes called the negativity bias, evolved to help humans survive by quickly identifying danger. In today’s world, however, it can cause us to focus on daily frustrations while overlooking moments of comfort, kindness, and joy. Gratitude helps redirect our attention toward the positive experiences that are also present.
Practicing gratitude may also strengthen relationships. When we recognize the people and experiences that enrich our lives, we often become more compassionate and understanding of others. Gratitude reminds us that many of the good things we experience are possible because of the generosity, support, and care of other people. This awareness can increase empathy and encourage acts of kindness.
Simple Daily Practices to Cultivate Gratitude
- Keep a Gratitude Journal: Each day, write down three things you appreciate. They do not have to be major events. A pleasant conversation, a beautiful sunset, a favorite meal, or a phone call from a friend all count. During difficult times, reading previous journal entries can serve as a reminder that positive experiences continue to exist alongside life’s challenges.
- Reflect Quietly: Spend two to five quiet minutes each day reflecting on what you appreciate. Think about people who have helped you, abilities you still have, meaningful memories, or small comforts that often go unnoticed.
- Take a Mindful Walk: As you walk outdoors, intentionally notice the warmth of the sun, the movement of leaves, the sounds of birds, fresh air, or a kind interaction with another person. Paying attention to these experiences helps strengthen the habit of noticing what is going well.
Finding Meaning in Everyday Moments
Gratitude is not about comparing your life to someone else’s or feeling guilty for your circumstances. It is about recognizing what is meaningful today. Some days that may be something significant; other days it may simply be a comfortable chair, a good cup of coffee, or a loved one’s smile.
Like any healthy habit, gratitude becomes easier with practice. A few minutes each day can gradually change the way we view ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us. Over time, those small moments of appreciation can contribute to greater emotional balance, improved well-being, and a healthier outlook on life.
At Everyone Dies, we believe that learning to appreciate today can help us live more intentionally tomorrow. Every day is a gift.
References:
- Recipe of the Week – Gratitude Dip – Big Recipe
- Starbuck, K. (2009). The Gift. Poetry. March 2009 | The Poetry Foundation
- Burrill, Tabitha – Contemporary Glass Society
Resources:
- 8 Ways To Have More Gratitude Every Day
- [Women’s Month 2022] Interview with Tabitha Burrill of Tabitha’s Glass Emporium(4) Fused Glass Flowers – YouTube
- Tabitha’s Glass Emporium Website | YouTube
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Everyone Dies: and yes, it is normal!
Everyone Dies (and yes, it is normal) is a story about a young boy named Jax who finds something special on the beach where he and his grandpa Pops are enjoying a wonderful day. Pops helps Jax understand that death is a normal part of life. This book provides an age appropriate, non-scary, comfortable way to introduce the important topic of mortality to a preschool child. Its simple explanation will last a lifetime. Autographed copies for sale at: www.everyonediesthebook.com. Also available at Amazon
Mourning Jewelry
We offer a way to memorialize your loved one or treasured pet with a piece of handmade jewelry. When people comment on it and the wearer can say for example “I received this when my mother died” which opens the conversation about this loss. All our jewelry is made with semi-precious stones and beads, vintage beads, and pearls. You can choose between earrings or bracelets and the color family. Learn More
