12 Sweet Ways to Say Thank You and Practice Gratitude This November

I love November. It’s my birthday month, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and there’s so much to enjoy: crisp weather, crunchy leaves, cozy sweaters and sweatshirts, delicious food, time with family, and a little extra focus on gratitude.

Handwritten notes in a pillow journal shared between a mom and her daughters

I was born in November and was named Grace pointing toward a spirit of gratitude, finding delight not only in the gift, but also in the Giver.

In our home, when my kids are whining or when I’m whining, we talk about turning on our “grateful hearts.” That little shift usually helps all of us feel a bit better.

Because of my name, gratitude has always felt personal to me, and I’ve always loved writing thank-you notes. So, in honor of this month of gratitude, I thought I’d share a few sweet ways to say thank you and practice being grateful:

12 Sweet Ways to Say Thank You

💛 Give someone’s door a “heart attack.” Cover a neighbor’s door with fall-colored paper hearts, each sharing something you love or appreciate about them.

A front door covered in fall-colored paper hearts for a gratitude heart attack

💛 Mail a list of 100 things you appreciate about someone. Think of their little kindnesses, favorite memories together, and the ways they make your life better.

💛 Make a gratitude turkey. Hang a paper turkey on the wall and write on its feathers with things your family is thankful for.

Paper gratitude turkey craft with feathers listing what our family is thankful for

Gratitude tree with colorful paper leaves on the wall

💛 Start a pillow journal. My daughters each have a little journal where we write notes back and forth, leaving them under one another’s pillows.

Orange paper heart resting on a white pillow, a simple way to turn on our grateful hearts

💛 Leave “I noticed” notes. Be specific: “I noticed you helped your sister when she was sad. Thank you for being kind.”

💛 Go on a gratitude scavenger hunt. Have your kids find something beautiful, something useful, something that makes them happy, and someone who helps them.

💛 Make a secret thank-you delivery. Leave a treat and a handwritten note for a teacher, neighbor, or friend you’re grateful for.

💛 Record a thank-you message. Let each child share a favorite memory or something they love about a grandparent, then send the recording.

💛 Give a little of your time. Show appreciation by taking a chore off someone’s plate, bringing dinner, or helping with yardwork.

💛 Write a “because of you” letter. Tell someone how they’ve influenced your life: “Because of you, I learned…” or “You helped me feel…”

💛 Make a gratitude paper chain. Write one blessing on each strip and watch the chain grow around a doorway.

Thankful tree made of real branches and paper leaves on an orange tablecloth

Kraft paper gratitude tree with green paper leaves on a classroom wall

💛 Make a gratitude tree! We’ve seen so many of these around and love the visual reminder of putting up a leaf everyday of something you’re grateful for.

💛 Thank the people behind the scenes. Make cards for the school custodian, librarian, delivery driver, or someone who quietly serves.

I hope this November gives us all a few more reasons to turn on our grateful hearts, and tell the people we love just how thankful we are for them.

xo Grace

You might also love: DIY Ancestor Photo Garland: A Meaningful November Family Tradition