The Hilarity of Thankfulness: Finding Gratitude in a World That Steals Your Parking Space

Thankfulness. It’s a word we toss around like a hot potato at Thanksgiving, yet half the time, we’re more focused on wrestling the last turkey leg from Aunt Mildred than truly being thankful. But gratitude, my friends, is a superpower—right up there with invisibility and the ability to fold a fitted sheet. And the best part? It doesn’t even require a cape. Let’s dive into this often-overlooked virtue with the humor, honesty, and occasional sarcasm you’ve come to expect from yours truly.

A Lesson in Gratitude: Courtesy of the Guy Who Cut Me Off
The other day, while cruising to my favorite coffee shop ( yes sometimes I suffer with store bought coffee), a guy in a sports car swerved in front of me, nearly taking out my bumper and my faith in humanity. My initial reaction wasn’t thankfulness, unless we’re thanking the universe for giving us creative ways to use four-letter words. But then I thought, “What if I could be thankful for him?”
So I did. I thanked him for reminding me how lucky I am to drive a car that doesn’t make me look like I’m overcompensating. I thanked him for reminding me I have the power to choose peace over road rage. And suddenly, I felt better—not about him (let’s not get crazy), but about myself. I also felt sorry for his need to feel in such a hurry.Gratitude is funny that way. It doesn’t always change the situation, but it changes you.

Thankfulness Isn’t a Competition
We’ve all encountered those gratitude ninjas who make us feel like amateurs. You know the type: “Oh, you’re thankful for your health? Well, I’m thankful for the sun rising every day, the air I breathe, and the miracle of the digestive system.” And you’re sitting there like, “I’m just glad my coffee didn’t spill this morning.”
Here’s the thing: gratitude isn’t a competition. If you’re thankful for not stepping on a LEGO barefoot, you’re doing it right. Life isn’t about monumental moments; it’s about the little wins—like finding your phone before it goes to voicemail.

From Big to Small: The Gratitude Buffet
If life is a buffet, gratitude is the plate. You can pile it high with big-ticket items, like family, love, and health, or sprinkle it with smaller delicacies, like your favorite Netflix show or the fact that your neighbor finally took down their Halloween decorations (it’s November, Lady).
The trick is to acknowledge it all. Be thankful for the big stuff and the small stuff. Be thankful for the life-changing events and the days when your Wi-Fi doesn’t buffer during a Zoom call. Gratitude is like a muscle—the more you flex it, the stronger it gets. Just don’t skip “leg day,” or you’ll end up lopsided, only noticing the bad stuff.

Why Gratitude Works (Even When It Feels Like a Joke)
On the John of New channel, I’ve talked a lot about how our thoughts shape our reality. Gratitude, at its core, is a Jedi mind trick we play on ourselves. It shifts our focus from what’s wrong to what’s right. And when we focus on what’s right, guess what? We start to notice more of it.
It’s like buying a red car and suddenly seeing red cars everywhere. Gratitude rewires your brain to see abundance instead of lack. So even if you feel ridiculous thanking the universe for that green light, do it. Your brain doesn’t care if it’s big or small—it just registers that you’re focusing on the positive.

Finding Gratitude in the Hard Stuff
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. (Or is it a turkey? Either way, it’s oversized and awkward.) What about when life feels like a bad sitcom with no laugh track? How do you find gratitude when you’re down in the dumps, out of options, or staring at an empty chocolate wrapper you swore was still full?
Start small. Be thankful for the breath in your lungs, the ground beneath your feet, or the fact that gravity hasn’t flung you into space. Sometimes, life’s blessings are as basic as “I woke up today,” and that’s okay. Gratitude doesn’t erase the hard stuff, but it gives you the strength to face it with a little more grace (and maybe a snarky comment or two).

Thankfulness as a Spiritual Practice
Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good exercise; it’s a spiritual position. It’s about acknowledging the interconnectedness of life and recognizing that, even in our toughest moments, there’s something to be grateful for.
Think about it: every challenge you’ve faced has brought you here, to this moment. Sure, “here” might involve mismatched socks and an empty fridge, but it’s also a place of growth, resilience, and potential. When you approach life with gratitude, you tap into a higher frequency—one that attracts more reasons to be thankful.

The Thankfulness Snowball Effect
Here’s where it gets fun. The more you position yourself in gratitude, the more it multiplies. It’s like a snowball rolling downhill, except instead of getting colder and wetter, you get happier and more fulfilled.
I’ve seen this in my own life and the lives of the folks who tune into the John of New channel. When you start each day with a simple “thank you”—whether it’s to the universe, God, or the barista who spelled your name right—it sets the tone for everything else. Suddenly, you notice the beauty in the mundane, the joy in the ordinary, and the humor in the ridiculous.

A Closing Thought (and a Thank You)
So, as we wrap up this written masterpiece of humor and heartfelt advice, let me leave you with this: thankfulness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. It’s about finding joy in the mess, laughter in the chaos, and blessings in the places you least expect.
And if you’re thankful for nothing else today, be thankful for this blogpost. After all, it’s not every day someone takes the time to make you laugh while encouraging you to be a better human LOL.
Now, go forth and conquer your day with gratitude—and maybe avoid cutting people off in traffic. You never know who might be using it as their next life lesson.