The 11th Annual Gratitude Challenge!

It’s time for the 11th Annual Positively Present Gratitude Challenge! It’s wild to think that I’ve been doing this for over a decade (and I know many of you have, too!). I’m so excited to begin this year’s challenge on with you on November 1.

There’s always something special about celebrating gratitude during the month of November each year. As always, I’ll be sharing illustrations on Instagram daily (follow me on Instagram if you’re not already!), but feel free to use these prompts for art, photos, collages, or whatever else feels like the best creative outlet for you. If you’re new to this Challenge, below are some details (as well as info on each prompt!).

THE CHALLENGE DETAILS

“Challenge” is just a word.

The goal of the Challenge is to focus on (and share if you want!) something (a photo, illustration, quote, etc.) every day, using the prompts to help you feel more appreciative. Feel free to get creative, make up your own prompts, etc.  Thankfulness is what it’s all about — no need to be a professional photographer or artist, or to even keep up every single day!

Join in at any time.

The point of the Challenge is to focus on staying thankful for thirty days. You can start the challenge on November 1 and do it for the whole month (as I’m doing), or you can start the challenge any day that works for you and follow along at your own pace. I see people discovering and partaking in the Challenge all year ’round so don’t feel limited to the 30 days of November!

Use the hashtag #Gratitude30.

Sharing your pics on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.? If you tag them with #Gratitude30, others can see them. If you click on the hashtag, you’ll be able to see how others interpret and share the prompts every day. Plus, because this has been used for over a decade, there’s tons of inspiration to explore!

THE 2021 PROMPTS…

DAY 1: WORDS

I love words so much that I keep a list of my favorites on my phone! Do you have a favorite word? What words mean the most to you when someone else says them? How have words impacted your world? Use the answers to these questions to inspire your thoughts about today’s prompt!

DAY 2: OPTIMISM

One of my favorite words is optimism! Positivity might seem like an odd thing to be thankful for, but can you imagine a world without it? Even though Positively Present is what I do for a living, optimism is still challenging sometimes and I’m so thankful for every opportunity to choose it.

DAY 3: COLOR

My favorite is orange, but I honestly love a rainbow with all the colors the best! What’s your favorite color? How does color play a role in your life? Today’s a good day to reflect on the beauty of color and appreciate the hues surrounding you.

DAY 4: LAUGHTER

Some say laughter is the best medicine, and I can’t deny that, during difficult times, humor helps me keep my mood up. What makes you laugh the most? When did you last laugh really hard? Use today’s prompt to reflect on times that you’ve had a really good laugh.

DAY 5: HEALTH

Health is, of course one of the most important things to be thankful for. If you’re fortunate enough to be healthy, celebrate  how you feel right now. If you’re not at your best, appreciate the times you were well (and look forward to when you will be again!).

DAY 6: COURAGE

How have you shown courage in your life? In what ways has the courage of others inspired you to be braver? Courage doesn’t need to be a big, grand experience — sometimes it’s merely the act of trying your best. Consider the ways you and those you know have been courageous.

DAY 7: LOVE

With so many kinds of love (romantic, platonic, etc.), it’s hard to narrow down today’s focus, but here are some questions to help: What or who do you love? When you hear the word “love,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? With today’s prompt, celebrate what you love!

DAY 8: NATURE

Writing Grow Through It really taught me the importance of nature. What nature do you frequently come in contact with? How does it make you feel when you experience it? Use today’s prompt to reflect on something beautiful in the nature around you.

DAY 9: FRIENDSHIP

Today, focus your attention on the friends who brighten your world. Who has been by your side no matter what? Who can you call, day or night, for a chat? Have you made any new connections in the past year? (It’s also a good day to let your friends know how much you care about them!)

DAY 10: CHANGE

Change, for better or worse, is an inevitable part of life. Today, reflect on what’s changed in your life over the past year. Or, consider a change you’ve made in your life that has positively impacted you (or maybe even a change you hope to make)!

DAY 11: SEASONS

With the one year anniversary of Grow Through It this year, I had to include the seasons prompt again! It’s been so amazing to see how much you’ve loved the book, and, with today’s prompt, I encourage you to celebrate your favorite season (or appreciate them all)!

DAY 12: MUSIC

As you might know from my Spotify playlists, I adore music. Finding the right song for an occasion or mood brings me so much joy! What kind of music do you love? What song are you most thankful for at the moment? Today’s the today to turn it up!

DAY 13: KINDNESS

To celebrate World Kindness Day, take a moment to do something kind for someone (or for yourself!) today. When you think of the word “kindness,” what (or who) is the first thing you think of? Make an effort to embrace that person or experience today.

DAY 14: ROUTINE

For some, the word “routine” might sound dull, but I’m a big fan of routines! Today’s the day to celebrate the daily tasks or experiences you enjoy. If you can’t think of something that fits the prompt, today’s a good day to start a positive daily routine (like keeping a gratitude journal!).

DAY 15: WORK

If you don’t love what you do, work might be a challenging prompt, but try to find a way that you can see the positive in the work you’re doing.  Work provides income, can be inspiring, and might lead to new opportunities. Today, consider how work (or school) might be a positive thing!

DAY 16: GROWTH

In what ways have you grown over the past year? Even if it feels as if nothing has changed, it’s very likely that something has. Take some time with today’s prompt to think about how things were different in the past — and maybe even how you’d like to grow in the future.

DAY 17: FOOD

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten? What’s something you eat often and really enjoy? Anyone who is lucky to have had at least one meal today is fortunate, so let’s reflect on the good fortune of food in our lives. If food isn’t an exciting topic for you, it’s still a great thing to be grateful for.

DAY 18: SELF-LOVE

The one person you will always have in your life is you. Today, let’s turn your attention inward and consider all the ways you have done your best this year. Appreciate the good (and not so good!) parts of yourself and ponder what you are most grateful to experience as you.

DAY 19: FUN

When did you last have a lot of fun? Today’s prompt is all about reflecting on how it feels to have fun, to be silly, and to create merriment. If nothing particularly fun comes to mind when you see this prompt, make an effort to schedule a fun experience in the near future.

DAY 20: CREATIVITY

Creativity is essential for keeping me alive and, while I know not everyone considers themselves “creative,” I truly believe everyone is. What’s the most creative thing you’ve done (or idea you’ve had)? Or, what’s the most inspiring form of creativity you’ve seen in someone else?

DAY 21: HOME

When you hear the word “home,” what comes to mind? A place? A person? A feeling? Because “home” can be so many things, you can get creative with this prompt! Reflect on whatever home means to you, and share something special related to your personal home today.

DAY 22: ANIMALS

You might know that I spent a ton of time with my bestie, Barkley, and, if you know me IRL, you know how much I love dogs and animals of all kinds. What’s your favorite animal? Why do you enjoy seeing (or being with) that animal? Appreciate the animal kingdom today!

DAY 23: KNOWLEDGE

What have you learned recently that has surprised you or changed the way you see the world? When’s the last time you really spend time expanding your knowledge on a specific subject? Today, reflect on what you’ve learned (or taught others!).

DAY 24: ART

Art is one of my favorite things about being alive. What does the word “art” mean to you? Which artists do you admire? Take a look around and notice the art in your life today. Celebrate (or create!) art that makes you feel inspired and share it with others today, if you can.

DAY 25: FAMILY

Family can be the people you’re related to or the people you choose to surround yourself with. Today, spend time thinking about what you love about the family you’ve chosen. What do you really appreciate about these people and how can you show them today?

DAY 26: WEATHER

Weather can have a surprising impact on how we feel and act. What kind of weather do you most enjoy? How does the weather impact your emotional state? Today, make time to be thankful for the days you’ve experienced weather you enjoy.

DAY 27: BEAUTY

Beauty exists all around us, and it’s up to us to take notice of it. What beautiful things have you encountered recently? Or, what’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? Use today’s prompt to pay special attention to beauty around (and within!) you.

DAY 28: TECHNOLOGY

We all know that technology can be bad news, but it does have it’s upsides, too! (After all, without it, we probably wouldn’t be doing this Challenge together!) What technology is most useful in your life? What positive influences has technology had on your world?

DAY 29: TRUTH

What do you know to be true? How to you express truth in your life? Consider this prompt thoughtfully today, considering new truths you may have discovered over the past year. Or,  consider people you find to be most truthful and appreciate their honesty today.

DAY 30: MEMORIES

If someone asked you what the best moment of 2021 was (so far), what would you say? Or, if this year hasn’t been the most memorable, use today’s prompt to appreciate your favorite memories. If you have time, write down some of your best experiences so you don’t forget them!

These 30 prompts are merely suggestions to get you started, so feel free to make up your own prompts or mix these up. As you focus on gratitude this month, don’t forget to use the hashtag #Gratitude30 so I can see your posts. I’ll be posting mine starting on November 1 so keep a look out for them on IG. I can’t wait spend the month of November focusing on all the things we’re thankful for, and I can’t wait to see what you share!