The Gratitude Pumpkin – My Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition
Between the Halloween holidays and leading up to the Thanksgiving holidays, you can find pumpkins everywhere. There are pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin scones, pumpkin pie, pumpkin candles, and pumpkin themed clothing, but my favorite pumpkin of all is the “Gratitude Pumpkin.”
You may have pumpkins left over from Halloween that you used for decorating or a Jack O’ Lantern that you didn’t have time to carve just laying around, so grab your largest and roundest pumpkin and use it to start a new favorite Thanksgiving tradition.
I started my favorite Thanksgiving tradition with my daughter and stepdaughters years ago to take inventory of all that we are thankful for and to focus on what the holiday of Thanksgiving is really about.
From November 1st through Thanksgiving, with sharpie markers and a pumpkin, we start
each day with writing on the pumpkin one thing we are thankful for each day. If you have a young child that cannot write yet, they can draw a picture on the pumpkin, or you can help them write what they want.
You can use more than one pumpkin if needed. If you want to keep your Gratitude Pumpkin forever, there is also the option to purchase a ceramic or plastic pumpkin and paint and write upon this as well.
This visual representation of our gratitude really helps us reflect on the upcoming holiday and it is a fun tradition for the kids and I to look forward to every year. There is nothing better than a 3-D version of a gratitude journal that everyone can participate in and enjoy. And bonus, it makes the perfect centerpiece for our Thanksgiving day table. 
Here are some examples of things that I am thankful for:
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- I am thankful for my daughter and my stepdaughters
- I am thankful for my mom and dad’s unconditional love and support
- I am thankful for friends that support me and bring out the best in me
- I am thankful for a roof over my head and a nice bed to sleep in
- I am thankful for my health
- I am thankful for the adversities that made me stronger
- I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to travel the world
- I am thankful for a reliable car to take me to all the places I need to go
- I am thankful for photographs that help me relive special memories
- I am thankful for tea time with my besties
- I am thankful for my two sweet kitties and my 17-year-old cockatiel
- I am thankful for bubble tea and dark chocolate
- I am thankful for the opportunity to write for you
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There are so many things to be thankful for. My list is endless. So, grab your pumpkin and start this new tradition as November approaches for you and your family. Make your own piece of art and focus on what are you thankful for in 2024. When your heart is full of gratitude, there is little room for anything negative. What are you thankful for?
