Trigger Warning: This story mentions suicide, grief, and the loss of loved ones. Please read with care.
Amanda believes that gratitude is quite literally everything. It is the food on the table, the water we drink, the roof over our heads, and the medicine we need. For her, living with gratitude means consciously remembering the things that are there for you, rather than taking the world for granted.
This perspective started when she was younger. Amanda grew up without a lot of material things. Her family had very limited means, and she often noticed that her friends had much more than she did. However, she was always thankful. Raised by a hardworking single mother who cared for Amanda and her brother, she credits her mom for shaping her into the woman she is today. Because her mother was always there for her no matter what, Amanda learned early on to look around and find the beauty in her surroundings.
Amanda went through a very difficult time in her life when she experienced a lot of sudden loss. This included the death of her father by suicide, followed closely by the passing of her stepdad. The heavy grief of losing them both left her in a depressed state.
During this time, she made a conscious choice to remind herself of the good things she still had left. She focused on the beautiful flowers, the trees, and the family and children who love and support her. She also leaned heavily on her faith. Her strong personal beliefs helped her get through the hardest moments of her life. By taking time to reflect and connect with herself every day, she found the strength to be the woman and mother she is today.
“I’m grateful for each day I live here on this earth and choose to wake up every day with a smile and with a positive attitude, no matter what I’m feeling. Every day is a gift.”
~Amanda
In 2025, while going through this tough period, she came across the Gratitude app. She decided to try it out, treating it like a diary where she could write down the things she was thankful for. She loved that she could tell her story and record her memories. More importantly, reading back through her journal entries reminded her that she doesn’t have a bad life and that she actually has really good things going on.
Amanda states that today, her life is full of the simple things she enjoys. She reached this place by deciding to wake up focusing on the good every single morning, no matter how hard things felt. She loves to sing, take long walks with her husband, and spend time with her children. They enjoy planting flowers, sitting in the beautiful weather, and simply loving life. She believes in living each day to the fullest, as if it were her last, and not being afraid to just go for it and do something she has never done before.
Before intentionally practicing gratitude, she admits it was easy to take everything around her for granted. Now, the daily habit of journaling and getting her thoughts out has helped her understand herself on a much deeper level. She gives thanks for everything she has been through, both the good and the bad, knowing she can learn and grow from her mistakes.
“Appreciate everything that’s around you. Love your family, love your friends. You have support. You have love that’s there for you. It’s all around.”
~Amanda
Amanda wants people to know that gratitude is everywhere. Whether it is the sky, the earth, or your loved ones, she hopes others will look around and see the beauty that is already there. She figured out that a good life doesn’t have to be a perfect one. It really just comes down to noticing the simple moments and loving the people who are right there with you.
This is Amanda’s story, told beautifully by her and curated in its truest form by me to share with you.
I would love to hear your story. Write to me at preeti@gratefulness.me 💌
Every story is a reminder that a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.
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