If you have been around here for some time, you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love this day for many reasons (no commercialism, relaxed pace), but the main one is an intentional focus on gratitude. 

I participated in a September journaling challenge, led by Tara Schuster’s substack group (highly recommend!), that involved quite a few elements of a gratitude practice. At the end of the month, I was amazed  how this daily routine shifted my perspective in life, for both big and small moments. As someone who regularly says “thank you” and understands how much positive is in my life, I was truly in awe of how much more there was for me to acknowledge. 

For this month, I encourage you, dear readers, to look past the “big” things we are grateful for – family, friends, faith, health – and get granular. What are tiny ways that your life is improved regularly? I’ll go first. Here are ten things in my professional life that I am grateful for: 

That First Cup of Coffee

The first cup in the morning is sensational – the rich aroma, the warm mug in between my hands, the bold taste that kick-starts my day, how it warms me up in the cooler months. A calm morning with that first cup of coffee is a moment. 

A Perfect Pen

A perfect pen writes so smoothly that you don’t have to put any effort into it dancing across the page. The width is perfect for your grip, and the weight is not so light that you have to put pressure on the page but not so heavy that you have to put muscle into keeping it upright. Bonus points if it’s a fun color. I currently don’t have a specific go-to good pen and am open to recommendations here.

My (Really) Big Planner

I have a custom Agendio paper planner that I fill out every Sunday in detail. It has a monthly, weekly, and daily view, and each of them get their fair share of love. The daily views outline my days hour by hour, so I know exactly what I need to be doing at any given time. It also has a checklist of self-care items that I aim to check off daily, plus room for notes, meal planning, and an overview of where everyone else in my household needs to be. The utmost coordination! I live by my Google calendar, which is connected to all my devices, but the act of filling out this planner helps me process and understand my days ahead. 

A Cozy Coffee Shop

My love for coffee gets two points of gratitude today! I have run into many of you around town in one of many cozy coffee shops. I think I have visited them all at least once. The coziest of coffee shops has a warm atmosphere, kitschy decorations, and dim lights. You’ll hear the sounds of conversations and coffee brewing in the background. It’s the feeling of being with people but still in my own space that really does it for me. 

The Candle on My Desk

I always keep a candle on my desk. Currently I am working my way through the Les Boy Smells candle, yet I am grateful for any lovely scented candle placed carefully on my desk. It sets a mood of comfort, focus, and intention when I sit down to work. Since candles need to burn for a certain amount of time, it's also a note to myself that I need to get intentional work done for at least this long. 

Small Client Wins

Seeing client successes in small ways always warms my heart. When a customer calls them for service because they saw an ad campaign on social media or demand for a new product line increases because of a media campaign we did. My personal favorite is when a client’s mom sees them on TV and now thinks they’re a celebrity!

A Look of Pride

I am grateful for the look of pride and accomplishment on a team member’s face when they conquer a problem or learn a new skill on their own. Their confidence shines through and becomes contagious to the rest of the team. It spreads a thirst for knowledge sharing and a sense that we’re all in this together. 

My Chair

My Laz-Z-Boy desk chair is the ultimate dad vibe for a chair, and I adore it. I am a person who loves comfort, and this chair embodies that feeling. It’s cushiony and cozy, and it has plenty of room for me to sit in my classic criss-cross applesauce position while still reaching my keyboard on the desktop at the perfect height. For those concerned: yes, it’s ergonomic too. No (additional) back problems here folks!

Reports

They are sometimes tedious to put together, but I am truly grateful for the monthly reports we send to clients. I love the numbers! Reports are  a data-driven way to see what is working and what is not with our client campaigns. We can celebrate our wins and then problem solve how we can serve our clients better in the future. 

Our Newsletter Subscribers

I love our Campfire Collective newsletter subscribers and overall supporters. Many times have I been at a gathering or in a meeting and someone will tell me that they read our newsletter every month. It shocks me every time! One woman even said that it makes her feel like she’s part of a sorority when she reads it, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Another tells me she chooses her books and music each month from our list of recommendations. It warms my heart! Our newsletter is one way we hone our Campfire Collective value of community, and seeing it come to life is truly rewarding. 

What are the small things in life you are grateful for? I want to know! I am always looking for new items to add to my gratitude list, so I would love to hear what is on yours. Share them with me at shannon@buildacampfire.com or on all the socials at @shannonrlittle.