Thanksgiving Day is now well behind us—but that doesn’t mean your season of thanksgiving has to end.

Gratitude can last year-round, and probably should: Studies have shown that maintaining a spirit of gratitude, and practicing thanksgiving daily, can provide you with greater happiness, greater optimism, greater resilience in the face of adversity, and more energy as you go about your day.

And if you’re in recovery, all of these things are especially important—even crucial.

Plus, there are always things to be thankful for. It may not seem like it sometimes, and nobody denies that recovery can be difficult and painful. In spite of the pain, though, there are always reasons to be grateful.

A few specific things you might give thanks for include:

1. New starts, clean slates, and fresh beginnings.
2. The opportunity to work on your recovery rather than give up on yourself.
3. The friends and family members who have stood by you and encouraged you.
4. The doctors, therapists, and counselors who are helping you.
5. The joy and togetherness that the holiday season so often brings.
6. The physical and creative outlets you love—hiking, yoga, journaling, playing music, etc.
7. Forgiveness.
8. Your capacity for self-love.
9. New friends still to meet and relationships still to form.
10. Music.
11. People who know you in all your beauty and all your imperfections, and love you madly.
12. A community of people who understand your struggle first-hand.
13. Travel—new places to see and explore.
14. Your vocation—the work that gives you satisfaction (or at least a paycheck).
15. Ever-increasing awareness and education about eating disorders.
16. Movies.
17. Books.
18. Your favorite ways to pass time—board games, crafting, or whatever else.
19. Your favorite memories.
20. Pets.
21. The natural world and its beauty.
22. Your own resilience.
23. The fact that there’s still so much of your story yet to be written.
24. Loving others.
25. Being loved by others.

Be thankful now—and every day.

[cta] What would you add to our list? Let us know over on Facebook! [/cta]