Ancient philosophies from Stoicism to Buddhism emphasized thankfulness as a daily practice, long before modern science confirmed its benefits. A Yale University study found that people who wrote thankfulness letters for 30 days showed measurable changes in brain structure associated with happiness. The key is consistency - like brushing teeth for mental health. Simple methods include: 1) Mealtime thanks (naming three good things about the day) 2) Threshold practice (pausing to appreciate something when entering rooms) 3) Digital thankfulness (replacing quick "likes" with thoughtful comments). These micro-moments accumulate to create a more joyful baseline outlook. Thankfulness isn't about ignoring life's difficulties, but about not letting them overshadow life's gifts.