Social media influencers can get a bad rap for incessantly advertising products, but one man is turning the stereotype on its head by promoting something you can’t buy in stores: gratitude.
Using the handle Today.IAm.Grateful, 39-year-old college administrator David (who asked that we refer to him by first name only) posts short, daily videos of himself expressing appreciation for everything from salt to ceiling fans and cell service. And they clearly resonate with others looking to slow down and feel more thankful — since launching his accounts, he’s amassed over 340,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.
@today.iam.grateful Today I am grateful for salt! Anyone else add salt to almost everything?! #grateful #gratitude #gratitudejournal #todayiamgrateful #thankfulfor #salt #gratitudepractice
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But while his cheerful visage seems to suggest he was born with a wellspring of optimism, it’s taken conscious effort for David to become who he is today.
He started his TikTok channel in the summer of 2023 following a period of mental health struggles, including anxiety, a lack of confidence, and an overabundance of critical self-talk. “I had gotten off track and wasn’t doing the things that support good mental health,” the Kentucky resident shared with Nice News via email. So, with the encouragement of a friend, he began incorporating intentional activities to help get him back on track, one of which was a gratitude practice.
“The traditional instruction is to list three things each day that you are grateful for,” the father of three explained. “I was in such a bad place that the idea of having to think of three was giving me anxiety! So I changed it. I decided I would think of just one thing each day to be grateful for. I could handle that. And I would just repeat that one thing and focus on it all day long.”
@today.iam.grateful Today I’m grateful for deodorant. Its positive effects on community and society cannot be overestimated. If it’s missing when you’re in a crowded subway car, it definitely changes the atmosphere. 🙂 #grateful #gratitude #gratitudejournal #todayiamgrateful #thankfulfor #deodorant
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He began by writing down that one thing in a journal, but found it difficult to be consistent. That’s when he had the idea of starting a video journal, figuring it might help hold him accountable. Within two weeks of posting, he was feeling better, and he hasn’t missed a day yet, he said. It’s safe to say that many of his followers don’t miss a day tuning into his feed, either.
“I discovered that what I had been needing in my life was needed by thousands of people around the world,” said David. He receives a wealth of positive comments and messages from people expressing how much his account has helped them, and he credits his viral status to the simplicity of his approach: “Even if we are overwhelmed, busy, or in a poor mental state, we can process one simple gratitude expressed in just a few seconds!”
@today.iam.grateful Today I am grateful for a commute. I know this sounds counterintuitive, because commutes can often be stressful and frustrating experiences. At my job right now, I really don’t have a commute, which is also a blessing, and something I am grateful for. However, I noticed that because my commute is so short, I don’t have time to change gears out of work mode, work stress, and work worries before I get home. And so that points out a benefit of having a commute. Commute time can be used to decompress, destress, ground and refocus, listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or just listen to some music that you enjoy. How can you use your commute time in a way to benefit you personally? #grateful #gratitude #gratitudejournal #todayiamgrateful #thankfulfor #commute #commuterlife
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In addition to his gratitude videos, he’s also shared a couple “get to know me” videos. He loves computers, hiking, trying new things, and puns, he says in one of them. In another, he expresses his enthusiasm for people, philosophy, business theory, and customer service. When asked if having such a wide range of interests plays a role in cultivating gratitude, David replied, “Absolutely! But I don’t think it’s a requirement.”
“I love life, I’m curious, and I love learning new things about anything,” he explained. “So I am naturally prone to appreciating a broad range of things as well.”
But that doesn’t mean he’s never at a loss for what to feel thankful for. When he faces “gratitude block,” if you will, he turns to the running list he keeps, or takes inspiration from others via the community-based gratitude journaling app that he and many of his followers use.
@today.iam.grateful Today I’m grateful for mountains and hills. I’m grateful for special terrain features, cliffs, waterfalls, boulders, formations, arches, and so much more! #grateful#gratitude#gratitudejournal#todayiamgrateful#thankfulfor#mountains#hills#terrain#outdoors
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“Also, I follow the rule that nothing is too silly to be grateful for — if it’s a silly song or just a bent nail that I’m hanging my jacket on, it counts!” he shared. And his method works. David credits gratitude with rewiring his mind, and believes that anyone can reap the same benefits he has.
“Gratitude changes people in a really positive way,” he said. “It’s a focus on the good in the world, and that focus helps us appreciate life, appreciate ourselves, and appreciate others.”
His advice for others looking to follow his lead?
“Do it. It’s not easy to start, and never will be,” David emphasized. “You have to choose it on purpose. Just like working out, you have to strengthen the ‘gratitude muscle’ in your brain. Start simple like I did. What’s just one thing you are grateful for today?”
RELATED: January Is National Thank You Month: Here Are 7 Ways to Express and Increase Your Gratitude
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