Confession: We skipped the Easter party at our local park and decided to stay home and spruce up our yard together as a family. We were having fun and realized we didn’t need the silly toys and candy that we’d get at the party. We were amazed at how much we actually enjoyed pulling weeds when it was something we all were doing together.

My 4-year-old beamed with pride when he pulled them up and saw that he got the roots! He raced to pick up piles of weeds from me to put into our green waste bin as if he were rushing to score a touchdown. We found joy in a task that many despise.

We found joy in just being together, no matter what we were doing, and I realized we need to do this more — I need to do this more. I need to recognize the joy that is present in so many overlooked moments, the opportunities that even the most mundane tasks can offer for connection or meditation or fun — if I choose to shift my perspective; if I choose to be mindful; if I live my life with gratitude at its center.

Today I remind myself to do this: to move forward with gratitude. To do so, I’ve put together some simple prompts — some encouragement to consider all that I have to be grateful for, most especially those individuals in my life that have made my life fuller, dreamier, kinder, and simply, better.

This next week, let’s all try to extend gratitude to:

• Someone who included us (someone who invited you to be a part of something special)
• Someone who responded to you kindly (despite not really knowing you)
• Someone who always supports your work/dreams
• Someone who always supports your children or family
• Someone who surprised you with an act of kindness
• Someone who has taught you something (or perhaps someone you are still learning from)
• Someone who helped you in a time of need
• Someone you don’t personally know that has made a difference in your life
• Someone who supports positive change in the world
• Someone who inspires you
• Someone who has truly changed your life
• And last, but certainly not least, extend some gratitude to yourself.

We can be our harshest critics, the strictest judge, but sometimes we need to stop and pat ourselves on the back.

So, I’m doing that now for you — I’m thanking you, even though I don’t know you. I’m thanking you for all those little things you do. The ones you feel no one ever seems to notice. I notice little acts of kindness in the world around me all the time, and it fills me with gratitude. So, thank you.

Jennifer Fischer is co-founder of the SCV Film Festival, a mom of two, an independent filmmaker and owner of Think Ten Media Group, whose Generation Arts division offers programs for SCV youth. She writes about her parenting journey on her blog, The Good Long Road. Her commentary is published Saturdays on SCVNews.com.