Gratitude

A few months ago, I found myself in conversation with friends about gratitude, what it really means, how it shows up in our lives, and how we can make it a more intentional part of each day. We talked about the difference between feeling grateful and practicing gratitude. About how easy it is to rush past the good in search of what's next.

As we spoke, I felt something shift. I began searching for words that reflected how I want to live and respond to the world around me, not just in the easy moments, but in the ordinary and even the difficult ones. That’s when it came to me.

Now, when someone asks, “Hi Aderonke, how are you?” I respond with:

“I walk in gratitude.”

At first, it felt unfamiliar, maybe even a little awkward. After all, most of us are used to the reflexive “I’m fine, how are you?” But I wanted a response that was more thoughtful. More present. Something that grounded me in what really matters.

Since then, I’ve been finding simple, consistent ways to infuse gratitude into my daily rhythm.

• My to-do list is now a To-Do With Gratitude list. A quiet nudge to appreciate what I get to do, not just what I haveto do.

• I begin my journal entries with a Gratitude Focus, which helps me notice what’s going well, even on the hardest days.

• And on my desk sits a gratitude calendar, 365 small reminders to pause, reflect, and notice the good.

Gratitude hasn’t erased the challenges or frustrations of life. But it has given me a softer place to land. It helps me slow down and pay attention to the comfort of a deep breath, the joy in a shared laugh, the warmth of a hug, or the quiet gift of making it through the day.

So yes... I walk in gratitude.

And I invite you to walk with me.

What does walking in gratitude look like for you? Send me an email: aderonke@abwilsonconsulting.com I'd love to hear from you.

The image above is the featured photograph for May in the 2025 Let’s Spend The Year Together calendar, a quiet reflection of the month’s theme: gratitude.