Practicing Gratitude in Daily Life: The 15-Minute Glove Lesson

Practicing gratitude in daily life isn’t always about the big wins; sometimes, it’s about a red knit glove and a snowy morning in Syracuse.

There was a snowstorm today in upstate New York. The kind that doesn’t ask your opinion. And no—this wasn’t “oh, it’s chilly” snow. This was Syracuse in January snow. Not 34 degrees. Not even 24. It was four! Which, in Syracuse in January, is basically an f-word. The kind of cold that doesn’t hurt so much as it offends you. It was cold enough that your face stings and the snow was heavy enough that walking to church felt intentional—like you really meant to show up.

Finding Gratitude in the Frustration

I kept my coat on during the service because it felt cozy. Somewhere between the hymns and the quiet, I reached into my pocket and found a small knit glove. Red. Soft. Nothing special. I decided to put it on my left hand. I’ve learned over the years that frustration usually isn’t random. It almost always has something to offer if we don’t rush past it too fast.

I didn’t know it yet, but this glove was about to teach me a profound lesson about practicing gratitude in daily life.

My left side is paralyzed. I don’t think about that much anymore—it’s just life. But winter has a way of reminding you. That hand gets colder than the rest of me, and I knew the walk home would be colder still. So there I was in church, locked in a quiet—but very real—battle, trying to get a simple knit glove onto my paralyzed left hand using only my working right one.

The 15-Minute Struggle

It took fifteen minutes. I’m not exaggerating. When you can’t feel your fingers, you don’t really know where they are. You can’t tell which finger is folded under, which one missed its slot, or which one is pretending it’s cooperating when it absolutely is not. It’s a slow, awkward, tedious process of tugging, guessing, adjusting, and starting over.

Julie—my sister, hero, and best friend—who happens to have one more chromosome than most of us, was sitting next to me the whole time. She wanted to help so badly. But helping would’ve made it harder. Adding another set of hands, even loving ones, would’ve only led to even more confusion. Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is let someone wrestle with their own glove.

A Different Kind of Wealth

As I worked at it, I had a passing thought. Not sadness. Not frustration. Just an honest observation: Wow… it would be really cool to have two working hands. That was it. No spiral. No self-pity. Just awareness. Eventually, I got the glove on. When it was finally seated where a glove is supposed to sit, I lifted my hand and took a picture.

That’s when Julie slipped her perfect little hand into the frame and gave me a thumbs up. “Great job, Derrick.”

At that moment, my perspective shifted. Yes, my left hand is paralyzed. But listen—if we’re making trades, you can have my entire good right arm too. I’m keeping what I’ve got. Why? Because practicing gratitude in daily life showed me I have something much more valuable:

• I have a sister who celebrates small victories like they’re Olympic events.

• I have love that shows up quietly and consistently.

• I have relationships that outweigh inconveniences by miles.

Why Your “Stuck” Moments are Gifts

You can probably put two gloves on in about nine seconds. No planning. No strategy. Just… on they go. Man, that must be awesome. But I’m also guessing there’s something in your life that isn’t working the way you’d like. Maybe it’s a relationship, a dream that’s taking too long, or a ’68 Firebird that won’t start.

Being stuck gives you a free minute or two you wouldn’t otherwise have. A pause you didn’t plan. A space you didn’t schedule. And sometimes that pause is the greatest gift. Instead of spending it frustrated, what if you used it to notice something in your world that is clicking on all cylinders?

Final Thoughts on Choosing Joy

Practicing gratitude in daily life isn’t complicated. It doesn’t require everything in your life to be fixed or perfect. It’s free, and it just needs your attention. While you’re waiting for something to work the way you wish it would, take a second to celebrate your “Julie.” Celebrate the fact that you can use two hands any time you want.

I put that glove on at 11:45 AM. It’s almost midnight, and I’m still wearing it. That thing was earned. And the lesson it taught me—that the struggle is often where the gratitude hides—is something I’ll be wearing for a long time too.