Throughout November, we’re more or less constantly being exhorted to give thanks. When we respond to those exhortations – or perhaps simply cultivate gratitude as a practice of emotional and spiritual growth – we’re likely to give thanks for big things: friends and family, health, work, food, clothing, shelter, and so on.

That’s a good practice! But lately I’ve adopted a variation inspired by best practices in communication. When we write:

• Concrete is more effective than abstract.
• Specific is more convincing than general.
• Details are more engaging than summaries.
• Showing is better than telling.

If I want to help you see what I see, I don’t write, “The table decorations were beautiful.” I write, “Two baskets full of pine cones and tiny red berries made the table festive.”

Similarly, I’ve lately adopted a practice of being grateful for concrete, specific things. I choose three every morning. Today, I am grateful for:

• The friend I hung out with last night (though of course I am grateful for all my friends and family)
• Opposable thumbs (because a mild sprain reminds me how much I need them both)
• Fresh home-brewed coffee (which makes the list at least 4 mornings out of 7)

In the evening, I try to find three actions during the day for which I’m grateful. On better days, that’s easy: “finished X project, kept my temper talking to Y” and like that. On worse days, “ate lunch” makes the list.

People relate more fully to stories than to statistics and to details than to broad strokes. Similarly, I’m finding that it’s easier to be grateful for farm market apples and working radiators than for food and shelter.

How about you?

• Do you focus on the details in your gratitude, in your writing, or both?
• If so, what difference does it make?
• If not, what stands in your way?

Please comment below to share your thoughts with our tribe of clear, effective communicators.