Feeling Unappreciated? Want to be appreciated and create a culture of gratitude in your home?

Gratitude has been a theme that has quietly woven itself through my life in different ways, from my childhood to my marriage and now as a parent. This year, I’m committing to making it a central focus, not just for myself, but for my entire family. Here’s why.

A Childhood of Mixed Traditions

Growing up, I had the unique experience of being raised in a home where my mother was Catholic and my father was an atheist. This created a blend of influences that shaped how I viewed the world. Even though I attended a religious primary school, I had no real understanding of how the values taught influenced my life for the positive, and I didn’t commit fully to the faith.

However, I did spend a lot of time with my grandparents, who had a strong connection to their faith and their own beautiful tradition of gratitude. Every meal began with a blessing, and no one dared touch their plate until my grandmother sat down. The blessing always ended with an acknowledgment to her: “Thank you to the cook.” It was a simple yet powerful ritual, one that created a moment of unity and gratitude at the table. But this practice wasn’t passed down in my home. My 6 siblings and I dove straight into the food while it was hot, and so, over time, the tradition faded.

Marriage and Spirituality

When I married my husband, I found a similar story. His culture places a strong emphasis on spirituality, including a blessing before meals. However, his immediate family, much like mine, didn’t prioritise this tradition. As a result, neither of us naturally carried it into our home. Our children grew up without a consistent practice of blessing the food or pausing for gratitude at the table.

Rekindling the Tradition

A turning point came when I started learning my husband’s native language. Reciting the blessing before meals became a wonderful way to practise. I began sharing these blessings with our kids, but consistency was a challenge. Some of my children were shy about saying the blessing in front of others, and my teenager flat-out refused. It was frustrating, to say the least.

But the more I engaged with the practice, the more I saw its deeper purpose. Beyond language learning, beyond teaching public speaking skills, it was about cultivating gratitude—a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

The Power of Gratitude

Over the years, I’ve learned that gratitude is transformative. Studying The Six Intimacy Skills™ was life-changing for me.

One of the biggest lessons was recognising how much of my mental energy was spent focusing on the painful, frustrating, and irritating aspects of life. Shifting my focus to the positive required effort and devotion, but the results have been profound.

When I feel thanked or appreciated, it fills me with love and a sense of being cherished. When I thank others, it fills me up to focus on the good I am surrounded by. Gratitude is a fundamental building block of a relationship that is respectful, loving, and intimate.

A Resolution for 2025

This year, I’m dedicating myself to cultivating a culture of gratitude in our home. I see it as a gift I can give my children: the understanding that what you focus on grows. By embedding gratitude into our daily lives—starting with a simple blessing before meals—I hope to guide them toward a life enriched by appreciation and positivity.

Here’s to 2025, a year where gratitude takes centre stage in our family’s journey. May we all learn to cherish the beauty in each moment, express appreciation freely, and create an environment of love and respect that brings us closer together.

Feeling unappreciated? My biggest tip: Take a good, hard look at where your focus is. Notice what you tend to focus on throughout your day—what stands out to you the most? By experimenting with shifting that focus, you may begin to notice a shift in others too. Gratitude has the power to transform everything around you.

If you want to learn all the ways I have flipped my focus in my life and managed to shift my mindset, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I teach a whole module on this! If you are ready to take your relationship to higher ground, book a FREE discovery call via the link below. I would LOVE to chat!