The lightkeeper’s Log: August Gratitude

Elisabeth invited us to join her for a gratitude practice in August [THANK YOU!] and it was the perfect time to flex that gratitude muscle again. Despite my actual physical exercise routine, gratitude is still something I need to intentionally incorporate into my daily routine. It’s not that I don’t have moments of gratitude, but I don’t always purposefully look for gratitude moments in my day. But that it something we can practice!

I decided to use Elisabeth’s prompts for this month because they gave me something to really contemplate and think about and it made it easier not to “forget” to write down a thought of gratitude at the end of the day.

01 | The highlight of my day was time in my hammock. You know this already, because I told you a gazillion times, but this was one of the best purchases of 2026. I didn’t know how much I needed a hammock in my life. It’s not surprising that a rocking cradle is so soothing for infants. The hammock feels like the adult version of it and it really does calm the nervous system.

02 | One thing I love about this current season (weather or life) is that it’s still light in the morning and the temperatures are pleasant.

03 | Pause for a minute. What do you notice that prompts gratitude? A cozy home.

04 | I am so grateful I met Tanja.

05 | I am thankful for this comfort in my daily routine: my morning coffee ritual (and IG story). Did you expect anything else? :)

06 | I am glad I don’t ever have to do this again: find a phone booth to call home (I did not have a landline or cell phone when I moved to the US and to call my family, I had to find a phone booth and have an international calling card. Can you imagine? Now, I can not only call them whenever I want, but also see them via video call).

07 | I appreciate this ordinary object in my home: a working fridge!

08 | I feel most content when I don’t feel rushed or pressed on time. That feeling is not easy to come by, but whenever I manage it, I am deeply grateful.

09 | Do one small thing that will make your life easier tomorrow: put out my workout clothes the night before.

10 | The funniest thing I heard saw today was this reel. Don’t ask me why but it made me laugh so hard. It’s absolutely silly and so weird, but also funny for no apparent reason.

11 | I am grateful for this part of my personality: patience. Don’t get me wrong, I can be impatient at times, but in general, I am a very patient person. I know that things need time and that you need to be patient with people, and nothing is gained from hurrying things along.

12 | If I had a magic wand, I would spend more time with my best friend. We just didn’t have enough time together. Neither of us knew that this would be the case.

13 | A way I’ve grown this year is pushing back against my Imposter Syndrome. For some reason, I always feel like I need to get confirmation from my peers, or worse, I need to do things the way they’d like them to be done, but I realize that sometimes I have agency over my own work (not always, but often enough) and I am trying to remember that and give myself more credit.

14 | Text/call a friend or loved one that brings you joy. I shared before that  I’ve been sending these little “Instant Video Notes“ back and forth with my cousin from our runs, and it’s so damn delightful.

15 | One thing in nature that always amazes me… how it calms down my soul. Tell me it does the same for you.

16 | What’s your best memory from August so far: date night/dinner with Jon. 

17 | A moment from today that felt like a gift: a good sweaty morning run and my morning coffee.

18 | If my level of gratitude today was an emoji, it would be… the contently smiling emoji. ☺️

19 | Who showed kindness to you for someone you love today? My mom. She’s always so supportive.

20 | Take a picture of something beautiful. We were out in the middle of nowhere for field work. A lot of this week was hot and dusty, but this view was beautiful.

21 | Who in your life truly listens when you speak? Tanja. She listens when I babble and also when I have important things to say. She doesn’t judge, but always supports me all the way.

22 | One habit that makes me feel grounded is… daily yoga. Most days it’s only for 10 minutes but it makes a difference!  

23 | If my body could talk, today it would be thankful for … a nap! 

24 | Pause and stretch. Hug yourself. Really! Do it!  Done!

25 | I am grateful for this mistake that taught me something important: I always tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and generally, I think it’s an honorable character trait, but I’ve been disappointed by people as well. The lesson for me is that I can always believe in the good in people, but I should also accept it as truth when they show me who they really are. What’s the saying? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!

26 | List three things that brought you joy today: coffee, a talk with my co-worker, an evening walk with Jon.

27 | Compliment someone – a spouse, child, co-worker, friend, or stranger. I stopped to talk to Tanja’s Doppelgänger and told her that she looks like a dear friend and that she always puts a smile on my face when I see her when I am out on my run. 

28 | What’s a daily task you’re grateful you can do? Move my body. 

29 | What’s something you used to overlook, but now deeply value? To sit and just be. It can totally slow down time.

30 | Someone I thought about with love: my sister. I adore and admire her in so many ways. I miss her and wish we could see each other more often.

31 | What can you let go of in September to make room for more gratitude? Perfectionism. I tend to try and squeeze too much into my day sometimes, and I am working on a better balance. If something doesn’t get done today, it doesn’t get done. 

Did you participate in the August gratitude practice?

When do you feel most content? And what’s your best memory from August?