November Challenge! There’s a Whole Lot of Thanking Going On!!

Part of my self-care practice includes recognizing what I have to be thankful for. Join me for a full month of giving thanks!

November Thankful Challenge

The purpose of this challenge is to put a focus on the good in our lives. It is too easy to point fingers at everything that is wrong or that hurts us. The more we allow that negativity to be at the forefront of our thoughts the harder it is to see how much we truly have to be thankful for.

The impact this has on our mental health overflows into our physical health. My hope is that by the end of the month, your first inclination will be to think of what you are thankful for each day versus angry or annoyed by without being prompted.

*Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, I receive a commission when you make a purchase through my links.

Reasons to give thanks all month long

Give thanks for______________________

• 1: Something your body allowed you to do today.
• 2: Something that made you smile.
• 3: Someone or something that made your day easier.
• 4: Something you accomplished.
• 5: Something that you did/ate/bought/were given to improve your health.
• 6: Something you recently read or watched.
• 7: A food that doesn’t trigger your chronic illness.
• 8: Your favorite song.
• 9: Something that has brought you comfort.
• 10: Something you did over the weekend.
• 11: Technology that makes your life easier/better.
• 12: Your home and what makes it a safe place.
• 13: A challenge that made you stronger.
• 14: A funny movie.
• 15: Your family.
• 16: The weather.
• 17: Something that helps you fall asleep.
• 18: The kindness of a stranger.
• 19: A daily routine that brings you pleasure or improves the quality of your life.
• 20: Someone or something that made you laugh.
• 21: Your favorite blog!
• 22: A good deal!
• 23: Something that helps you reduce pain.
• 24: Your favorite autumn smell.
• 25: Knowing others who understand the challenges of living with one or more chronic illnesses.
• 26: A funny or inspiring YouTube video.
• 27: A past mistake that helped you become a better person or improved the quality of your life.
• 28: Learning something new.
• 29: A daily or weekly habit that you have incorporated into your life sometime in the past year.
• 30: Your favorite November moment.

Scroll down for details of each day.

1: Thanking something your body allowed you to do today.

Fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis make it easy to list what my body didn’t allow me to do or how it failed me. I am always surprised by how much I can do when I stop focusing on what I can’t do. Whatever your chronic illness or pain is, take a moment to give thanks for what your body was able to do.

2: Something that made you smile.

Who or what made you smile today? Take a moment and share it with the group. And better yet, if it was someone, tell them!

3: Give thanks to someone or something that made your day easier.

Did someone do something that made your day easier? Perhaps it wasn’t a person but something like an appliance, electronic device, or another gadget that helped. Whatever or whomever, share how they/it helped and why you are thankful for them/it.

4: Something you accomplished.

No accomplishment is too small when living with one or more chronic illnesses. Share a recent accomplishment and why you are thankful for making it.

5: Give thanks for something that you did/ate/bought/were given to improve your health.

Give thanks for doing, eating, buying, or receiving something that will improve your health. Remember when thinking of health, do not focus solely on your chronic illness, think about your entire body.

6: Something you recently read or watched.

Have you read or watched something recently that either entertained or taught you something? Give thanks for it by sharing it with the group!

7: Give thanks for the food that doesn’t trigger your chronic illness.

Give thanks for food(s) that do not trigger your chronic illness/pain.

8: Your favorite song.

Give thanks for your favorite song by sharing it with the group. Earn a bonus point if you share a YouTube clip for all to enjoy!

9: Give thanks for something that has brought you comfort.

Is there something, in particular, that has brought you physical comfort? Give thanks for it by sharing what it is with the group!

10: Something you did over the weekend.

Give thanks for something you did over the weekend! It doesn’t have to be anything grand or record-breaking, giving thanks for being able to rest when needed is most definitely something we should be thankful for.

11: Technology that makes your life easier/better.

Name a piece of technology that has improved your life.

12: Your home and what makes it a safe place.

It is easy to complain about where we live, but truth be told we should be thankful that we have a home to complain about! With that said, give thanks for your home and share what about it makes you feel safe.

Day 13: Give thanks for a challenge that made you stronger.

Life is full of challenges. Some have pushed us past our comfort zones and others have taught us lessons. Share one of the challenges that you have either overcome or are currently going through and why you are thankful for it.

14: A funny movie.

Share a funny movie that you are thankful for! Bonus points if you share a YouTube clip or GIF about it on the daily prompt located in the group.

15: Your family.

Give thanks for the family member(s) who love and support you. And if you haven’t done it recently, thank them!

Day 16: Give thanks for the weather.

Give thanks for the weather. Not just for the days when the temperature is is your favorite range, but for whatever it is on this day. Is it cool, cold, warm, sunny, rainy, windy, or snowing? I will be honest in sharing that my body and I do NOT like snow, but I am thankful for how a snowy day makes me want to do nothing but curl up with a warm cup of coffee and a book.

17: Something that helps you fall asleep.

What helps you fall asleep? Give thanks for and share the items or routines that make falling asleep easier.

18: The kindness of a stranger.

Sometimes the rude or cruel actions/words of a few people cloud our eyes and ears from the random acts of kindness from strangers. Take a moment to think about the last act of kindness that was shown to you by a stranger and give thanks for it. It could be as simple as opening a door for you or as grand as paying for your dinner.

19: Give thanks for a daily routine that brings you pleasure or improves the quality of your life.

Take a moment to give thanks for something you do daily that brings pleasure to or improves the quality of your life. Maybe you wake up a few minutes earlier than your kids to enjoy the quietness of your home. It could be taking a daily walk or taking the time to write in your journal. Whatever it is, share it with the group and give thanks for what it does for you.

20: Someone or something that made you laugh.

Laughter is an important part of my life. My life is often quite comical and impossible to not laugh at. With that said, share something that someone did or that you read/watched that made you laugh at loud in the past week. Then give thanks that you haven’t lost your sense of humor!

21: Give thanks for your favorite blog!

Give thanks for your favorite blogs or podcasts! Share them with the group along with why you are thankful for their blog.

22: A good deal!

Today is all about getting a good deal!!! Whether you are shopping Black Friday sales in person or not, share a recent good deal that you are thankful for.

23: Give thanks for something that helps you reduce pain.

Let’s take a moment to give thanks to the items/devices/treatments that reduce our chronic pain!

24: Your favorite autumn smell.

Give thanks not just for your favorite autumn smell, but the memories associated with that aroma! Share one or both with the group!

25: Knowing others who understand the challenges of living with one or more chronic illnesses.

When I was first diagnosed with my chronic likenesses, I didn’t know anybody who had them. It was lonely trying to learn about and how to cope with fibromyalgia, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and endometriosis without having anyone who knew what I was going through. The chronic friends I later made helped me in ways that my non-chronic friends could never. Not because they wouldn’t want to, but because it is just something that you don’t get unless you get it. Today I want us to take a moment to give thanks to those who “get” our chronic lives.

26: Give thanks for a funny or inspiring YouTube video.

Give thanks for a funny or inspiring YouTube video and share it with the group!

27: Be thankful for a past mistake that helped you become a better person or improved the quality of your life.

Mistakes help us learn. No one is diagnosed with a chronic illness and leaves their doctor’s office knowing how to avoid every trigger or what limits their illness has set for them. To reach the point of enjoying my life more than I have ever since my first diagnosis, I made a lot of mistakes. And I am thankful for them because each and every one of them as taught me ways to improve the quality of my life and made it possible to help others. What mistake(s) have you made that you are thankful for?

28: Learning something new.

Having the ability to learn is something we all have to be thankful for. With that said, share something you have recently learned and why you are thankful for that knowledge. It could be related to your chronic illness/health, educational, life lesson, etc.

Day 29: Give thanks for a daily or weekly habit that you have incorporated into your life sometime in the past year.

The purpose of The Disabled Diva’s Fitness Buddies has never been about having the perfect physique, instead, it is about creating healthy habits that will improve the quality of our physical and mental health. Today I want you to think about one of the habits you have chosen to incorporate into your life during the past year. Then thank yourself for not giving up when the going got tough!

Day 30: Be thankful for your favorite November moment.

Take a moment to reflect on the past 30 days. Give thanks for everything you did, learned, and experienced. While I am sure you have many, share one of your most favorite moments with the group.

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