Steve’s Story – What’s in your pockets?

What’s in your pockets right now? Or, what did you leave the house with this morning? Keys? Wallet? Cellphone? For most of my life, I took these simple things for granted.

I spent many years as an addict and alcoholic. I went to work every day but lived for the weekend, waiting for the next time I could get high. When I wasn’t high, I was angry. When I was high, I felt guilty—guilty for being selfish, for letting my addiction control me.

I never thought I could escape that rut. But over the last few years, I’ve been fighting to get sober. And in that fight, I discovered gratitude—and this app. At first, being grateful for anything felt nearly impossible. But with steady practice, I started to pause and notice just how much I had to be thankful for.

One morning at work, it truly hit me. I was in a funk and wanted to write a few quick things I was grateful for, but I drew a blank. Out of frustration, I emptied my pockets.

I pulled out my wallet. No cash—but bank cards. Those cards were linked to an account where my paycheck would land at the end of the week. Grateful. Inside the wallet, I also had my ID. Grateful. Healthcare cards from my employer. Grateful. And two pictures of my beautiful daughters. Grateful.

Already, my mood was shifting. Why was I feeling so ungrateful? Look at what I had.

Next, my cellphone. With it, I could call or message a friend at any moment, connect with my family whenever I needed to. Grateful—especially knowing there are people out there with little or no family at all.

Finally, my keys. One for my vehicle, which helped me get to work to provide for my family. Another for my home—a place filled with love and memories I’d made with the people who matter most.

In that moment, I realized how powerful gratitude really is. Just by looking at what was in my pockets, I shifted from a bad mood to a thankful heart.

Since then, I’ve carried this lesson with me: be grateful for every little thing in life, no matter how small it seems. Not every day is perfect, and I still struggle sometimes. But whenever I need a reminder, I just think about what’s in my pockets. And gratitude takes care of the rest.