So, here we are. It’s late September. Fall has officially begun, but today marks another significant moment. We are 100 days away from 2020 – say what!? And while most of us (myself included!), are focused on all the fall things and enjoying this brand new season, I want kick off something new with you all – a 100 Days of Gratitude Challenge.

What’s the point of expressing your gratitude? Several studies show that expressing gratitude regularly has been shown to improve physical and mental health. It helps us better appreciate our bodies and relationships (amongst other things!) and that in return makes us happier all around.

“Gratitude is something that leads to much more sustainable forms of happiness, because it’s not based in that immediate gratification; it’s a frame of mind,”

– Emma Seppälä, A Happiness Researcher

So, for the next 100 days, I’m going to update this post with the three things I am thankful for on that given day. There are many proven benefits of expressing gratitude, and while I try to think about what I’m grateful for on a daily basis, I know I can do a better job. So, that’s why I came up with this challenge. My hope is it encourages you to think about what you’re grateful for and to even do a 100 Days of Gratitude Challenge yourself!

Since I’m a serial over-thinker, my goal with this is to keep it simple and update this list each day, with the first three things that come to mind. I can’t promise these will be profound, and I can’t promise I won’t repeat myself, but I am committed to doing it each day.

The Gratitude Challenge

1. September 23: Aldi’s hazelnut coffee creamer, fall decorations, our bible study group
2. September 24: Evening walks with Will, Maple’s cuddles & pumpkin spice candles
3. September 25: driving with windows down, Forever 35 podcast, music that’s good for your soul (currently listening to Just to Say I Love you by Michael Franti & Spearhead and High & Low by Empire of the Sun)
4. September 26: Will, planes and my health
5. September 27: Long weekends, good hospitality and beaches
6. September 28: Watching the sun set over the ocean, my hiking buddy, fish tacos
7. September 29: Seeing old friends, 70-degree weather with no humidity, beautiful views
8. September 30: Long weekends, coffee, TSA people with a sense of humor
9. October 1: My teddy bear slippers, my home, Maple
10. October 2: New shoes that don’t need breaking in, pumpkin spice candles and driving with the windows down
11. October 3: Family, walks with Will, Netflix
12. October 4: my blogging friends, pumpkin patches, fall-like weather
13. October 5: good friends, Oktoberfest beer, my family
14. October 6: vest weather, soft pretzels, Sundays at home
15. October 7: amazing weather recently, the sound of birds chirping, the smell of fall in the air
16. October 8: that feeling of getting in a freshly made bed, fur blankets and Maple’s company when I work from home
17. October 9: thoughtful friends, Will, my family
18. October 10: my birthday, my family, cake
19. October 11: fall nights, long weekends, staying in after a long week
20. October 12: quiet Saturday mornings at home, this beautiful fall weather, Maple’s snuggles
21. October 13: road trips, fall foliage and family time
22. October 14: Monday’s off work, the feeling after a good workout and Will
23. October 15: Watching the sunset, a runner’s high after a long day and the fall foliage
24. October 16: pumpkin spice candle, time to cook dinner and this blog
25. October 17: the view from our home, getting my grandmother’s breakfast casserole recipe and the weekend ahead in Charlottesville
26. October 18: my friends, Will and sweater weather
27. October 19: weekends with my girlfriends, outdoor fireplaces and fall foliage
28. October 20: quality time with friends, the Virginia mountains and cozy Sunday nights
29. October 21: coffee, Maple’s company while I work from home and good music
30. October 22: quality time with Will, wings and cozy sweatshirts
31. October 23: runs outside in perfect fall weather, fall foliage and rainbows
32. October 24: my home office, icy hot, Will
33. October 25: road trips, good music and good friends
34. October 26: Clemson, football and friends from college
35. October 27: Tailgates, college memories and the time to visit Clemson
36. October 28: watching the sun rise, my planner and working from home
37. October 29: walks outside in the fall, Amazon and pumpkin spice candles
38. October 30: Time with my Mom, Netflix and Maple’s company when Will’s out of town
39. October 31: cat costumes for Halloween, Will coming home and Target
40. November 1: Fridays, walks outside and pizza
41. November 2: Time to unplug, the Virginia mountains and the beautiful fall foliage
42. November 3: The extra hour of sleep, snuggles with Maple and the chance to have a lazy day
43. November 4: Good friends, watching the sun rise, my planner
44. November 5: Will bringing me a cupcake, poke bowls and afternoon walks
45. November 6: Lizzo, phone calls with my Mom, work friends
46. November 7: long runs, cooking dinner with Will, kettle corn
47. November 8: Netflix, Friday nights on the couch, sherpa pullovers
48. November 9: the Virginia countryside, Target Pick-Up, my mom’s advice
49. November 10: seeing one of my best friends get married, driving through the countryside and homemade nachos
50. November 11: our nation’s military and veterans, my family, a productive day
51. November 12: Will, faux fur blankets and my pecan pie candle
52. November 13: Aldi, Lizzo and Chipotle
53. November 14: having a clean home, Everything but the Bagel seasoning and my teddy bear slippers
54. November 15: family dinners, Fridays and hot apple cider
55. November 16: walks with Will, weekends at home and Netflix
56. November 17: seeing friends from high school, time for a long workout and blogging
57. November 18: good podcasts, hazelnut coffee and Maple’s company when Will’s out of town
58. November 19: salad kits, hot apple cider and my planner
59. November 20: Will coming home today, holiday candles and my new faux fur coat
60. November 21: Will being home & cooking with him, Cat TV (and watching Maple watch lol) and tomorrow being Friday
61. November 22: Friday, the sun being out, having time to go to Orangetheory
62. November 23: The Man in the Glass Castle (currently watching on Amazon!), my new amazon scarf and listening to music from college
63. November 24: church group, warmer weather and walks with Will
64. November 25: the short work week, pizza and working out
65. November 26: Will, Maple’s silly playfulness and The Good Place
66. November 27: road trips with a driving buddy, family time and beach walks
67. November 28: Will, the love of family and friends and a beautiful, warm day in South Carolina with family
68. November 29: spending Thanksgiving with family, fishing with Jackson and Will and southern food
69. November 30: Will’s help driving, good music and Maple’s greetings
70. December 1: Christmas trees, all the holiday sales and Sundays at home
71. December 2: Slow cooker recipes, walks outside and online shopping
72. December 3: Angel Tree shopping with my mom, tacos and Christmas shopping
73. December 4: Maple’s cuddles, The Man in the High Castle (show on Amazon) and Christmas tree candles
74. December 5: Will surprising me by coming home early, my family and good friends
75. December 6: New projects, Office Christmas Party and Fridays!!
76. December 7: time in the Shenandoah valley, sunny days and time with Will
77. December 8: our church group, productive Sundays and all things sherpa
78. December 9: good friends, Christmas nails and our wooden ornaments from Germany
79. December 10: warmer weather, Maple’s cuddles and new opportunities
80. December 11: watching the moon rise and sun set at the same time today, good news and good friends
81. December 12: Will coming home, new hair color and Chipotle
82. December 13: Fridays, quality time with Will and holiday parties
83. December 14: family staying with us, Korean fried chicken and exploring DC in the Winter
84. December 15: having family in town, finding a new favorite lip balm in time for winter and finishing my holiday shopping
85. December 16: making (and eating) Christmas crackers, hazelnut coffee and wrapping gifts
86. December 17: Will coming home, being so close to Christmas and having a clean home
87. December 18: Christmas candles, a sunny day and being done with Christmas gift shopping
88. December 19: the peace of watching the sun rise, getting in an Orangetheory workout and time to relax with Will
89. December 20: reuniting with a coworker, slow work days and Maple making me laugh while gift wrapping
90. December 21: Enjoying Christmas with my family, Escape Rooms and
91. December 22: Christmas stockings with Will, strong coffee and Finding good Thai food in a small town
92. December 23: Road trips with family, having two Christmases this year and getting to Illinois safely
93. December 24: seeing a truly beautiful sunset, riding four wheelers and time with Will’s family
94. December 25: the magic of Christmas with family, time with our baby nephew and watching Christmas movies
95. December 26: decorating gingerbread cookies together, family time and enjoying the slower pace of the midwest
96. December 27: having three other people to split up the drive home, getting free chocolate chip cookies and coming home to Maple at the door
97. December 28: having time to unplug, the feeling when you’re done unpacking and long hot showers
98. December 29: Clemson heading to the championship game, the high after an Orangetheory workout and my new 2020 planner
99. December 30: long walks with Will, playing with Maple in the cardboard house we made him and time to reflect on the past year
100. December 31: my new job, a wonderful year and all the people who’ve supported me on my journey

I hope this challenge inspires you to focus on gratitude more often. If you do a 100 Days of Gratitude challenge too, I would love to know. Please tag me on Instagram @sarahcamille22 so I can see, and remember that it doesn’t matter what day you start.