When You Feel Like You Have Nothing, Look Again
This is the next prompt in the Burnout Recovery Journal for Moms series—and yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Gratitude? Again?” But noticing the small, steady things can keep you afloat.
You’ve got more going for you than you think. Gratitude helps you remember. And that’s coming from the Queen of Complaining (which I do think can be just as helpful when it’s cathartic). But once the venting’s done, it’s gratitude that gently shifts the energy and reminds you this life still holds joy.
In this article:
What are three things I am grateful for right now?
1. Having Time to Be With My Kid
2. Having (Enough) Money to Not Fear
3. Good Health
Your Turn: What Are Your Three?
What are three things I am grateful for right now?
Most people spend their whole lives chasing three things: more time, more money, and better health. But when you actually have enough of each—even just for a moment—it’s easy to miss it.
This week, I sat with this question and realized how much is quietly holding me together—things I once overlooked, or even resented. Here’s what made my list:
1. Having Time to Be With My Kid
We’re all used to hearing that “time is money,” but the truth is—time is freedom. The wealthy buy it through childcare, housekeepers, and assistants. But the rest of us? We often have to sell it, like:
Trading time for money – You end up doing everything yourself—laundry, cleaning, repairs—when your budget’s tight because paying someone else isn't an option.
Not affording time-saving services – Meal kits, rideshares, a babysitter for two hours of peace are for people with wiggle room in their wallets.
Jobs owning our schedules – Hourly work, night shifts, zero paid time off—low-income jobs often mean long hours and no flexibility.
Staying home with the kids is one of the few time-related experiences shared by both the rich and the poor—though for very different reasons. Wealthy moms often have the financial cushion to opt out of work without worry. For poor moms, staying home is a choice made because daycare would cost more than they could earn.
While I sometimes feel like my time is invisible, undervalued, or wasted, I also know I get to spend my days on my own terms—lingering over breakfast with my son, chasing curiosity instead of deadlines, and pouring my best energy into my own family instead of fueling someone else’s profits.
It’s one of those shifts no one really prepares you for—going from career to caregiver overnight changes how your time feels, how it’s valued, and how invisible it can become.
2. Having (Enough) Money to Not Fear
People talk about money like it’s either abundance or struggle, but most of us live in the gray area in between—where you can’t splurge, but you’re not panicking either. Having “enough” money doesn’t mean wealth. It means stability. It means breathing room. And when you have it, life looks a little more manageable:
Groceries aren’t stressful – You can fill a cart without doing mental math over every item or putting things back at checkout. And one of the reasons we don’t struggle with groceries is because we take advantage of the resources available to us.
Bills don’t cause panic – You might groan when they hit, but you’re not praying for a miracle before the due date.
Emergencies don’t derail everything – A flat tire or broken appliance is annoying, not catastrophic.
Your kids don’t feel the tension – You can say “yes” sometimes, even if it’s just to the snack they picked out or a trip to the park with gas in the tank.
We’re working-class, which means no fancy cars, no luxury vacations, and no curated home aesthetic. But we have what we need. We’re not living above our means or one crisis away from bankruptcy.
I know every dollar has a job, and I kind of love that. It means we celebrate what we do have, we don’t waste, and we value comfort over excess. Our version of “enough” keeps us humble, keeps us creative, and keeps us free from the pressure to impress. And that feels pretty wealthy to me.
3. Good Health
Good health is one of those things you don’t really think about until it’s not there. When life is busy and loud and full of to-do lists, it’s easy to forget how much smoother everything runs when your body just works. Ours do. And that’s worth pausing for.
No doctor’s appointments rule our schedule – Outside of the usual checkups and daycare colds, our calendar is our own.
We have energy for the day – Even when we’re tired, we’re not drained. We can still move, play, carry, clean, keep going.
We’re not managing pain – No daily discomfort, no prescriptions to balance, no chronic issues stealing our focus.
We feel like ourselves – Parenthood shifted everything, but we’re still in here—present, mobile, capable.
My husband and I joke that we feel both older and younger since becoming parents. We’re not aiming for peak fitness right now, just feeling good enough to keep up with our kid—and finding simple, realistic ways to move and eat well when time is tight.
Our backs creak more, but we’re outside more. We’ve lost sleep, but gained new reasons to laugh. And through all the changes, our bodies are keeping up. We may not be at peak fitness, but we’re healthy enough to enjoy this life we’ve built—and that’s everything.
Your Turn: What Are Your Three?
You don’t have to wait for something magical to happen to feel thankful. Sometimes the most powerful shift comes from noticing what’s already working in your life.
If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself:
What’s going right that I usually overlook?
What makes daily life a little easier, a little sweeter, or a little more stable?
What would I miss if it were suddenly gone?
Think about your version of “enough.” Think about the boring stuff that’s actually saving you. Think about the ordinary moments that feel quietly good.
Then write down three things. Don’t overthink it. Just name them. And see how that small act begins to shift your energy—even just a little.
Resources:
U.S. Government. Benefits Finder. USA.gov. https://www.usa.gov/benefit-finder
Health Resources & Services Administration. Find a health center. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
