Gratitude Through the Five F’s: How Thankfulness Unlocks Peace, Prosperity, and Purpose
A solo episode with Natalie Kime
In this solo episode of Chat With Nat, I explore how gratitude transforms every part of our lives through the framework I live by — the Five F’s: Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, and Fun. These five areas form the foundation of how I strive to live fully every day, especially when life feels heavy, uncertain, or overwhelming. Gratitude isn’t just a feeling — it’s a practice that grounds, heals, and empowers us to thrive with purpose and peace.
You’ve been told to count your blessings.
You’ve been told that gratitude makes life better.
But here’s what I’ve learned — gratitude isn’t just about feeling thankful when everything’s good. It’s about finding peace in the middle of chaos and hope in the middle of heartbreak.
In this episode of Chat With Nat, I talk about the power of gratitude through the lens of what I call the Five F’s — Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, and Fun. Together, we’ll explore real stories, reflections, and a few powerful reminders that gratitude isn’t a reaction, it’s a way of life.
The Real Story Behind Faith and Gratitude
Faith is where my gratitude practice begins.
There’s a quote by Corrie ten Boom that I shared in this episode: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Corrie and her sister Betsie were imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, and when they arrived, their barracks were infested with fleas. Corrie was furious, questioning how God could possibly allow such suffering — until she learned the guards refused to enter the barracks because of the fleas. Those same fleas gave them freedom to pray, to share the Bible, and to comfort others.
That story wrecked me in the best way. Gratitude, even for what seems unbearable, isn’t denial — it’s trust. It’s faith that there’s purpose beyond pain.
I’ve had seasons where I leaned on faith because I had no other option, and seasons where things were good and I got too comfortable. What I’ve learned is this: gratitude in faith keeps me grounded in both. Every morning, I write down five things I’m thankful for — big or small — and that simple act shifts my mindset before the world has a chance to.
Faith gratitude says: Thank you, even here. Even now.
The Turning Point — Family and Thankfulness for the People, Not the Perfection
Family is one of the hardest and most beautiful teachers of gratitude.
John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, once said, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” After losing his wife of nearly 50 years, he wrote her a love letter every month until he died, placing each one on her pillow. He said, “I’m not sad that she’s gone. I’m grateful I had her at all.”
That story moved me deeply. Gratitude for family isn’t about everything being perfect — it’s about choosing love, grace, and presence even in the messy middle.
As a caregiver for my parents, I’ll be honest — it’s not always easy to stay grateful. Some days are heavy and exhausting. But then I remember the gift it is to be able to give back to the people who gave me everything. I’m grateful for every story, every laugh, every moment we’re still creating together.
My challenge to you: pick one person — family, friend, or chosen family — and send them a short message that says, “I’m grateful for you because…” You’ll be amazed what that simple act can do.
The Hard Truth No One Talks About — Money and Gratitude
In my line of work, I talk about money every day — but what I don’t hear enough of is gratitude in the financial conversation.
John D. Rockefeller once said, “The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money.” Before becoming the world’s first billionaire, he tithed ten percent of his $1.50-a-week paycheck. He said, “I never would have been able to tithe my first million if I hadn’t tithed my first dollar.”
His story reminds me that wealth is not just about accumulation — it’s about alignment.
I teach my clients to do what I call a Gratitude Audit — before chasing the next goal, list three things your money already allows you to experience. Stability. Generosity. Freedom. When you start seeing money as a tool instead of a trophy, you realize how much you already have to be thankful for.
Gratitude grows what you give attention to — and money grows best where gratitude flows.
Framework — Fitness and Gratitude for the Body We Have
This next story hit me right in the heart.
Nick Vujicic, born without arms or legs, could have lived a life of despair. Instead, he learned to see every breath and every movement as a gift. He once said, “Your body is a temple, not because it’s flawless, but because it’s where your faith lives.”
Nick learned to swim, surf, and even play soccer — not because his life was easy, but because his gratitude was greater than his limitations.
When I think about fitness, I think about how often I’ve said, “I have to work out,” instead of, “I get to move my body today.” That small shift changes everything. Gratitude turns discipline into devotion.
This week, I encourage you to literally thank your body out loud after you move — even if it’s just a short walk. Thank it for what it can do today. That simple acknowledgment builds both strength and self-respect.
The Ripple Effect — Finding Joy in Fun
The final F is Fun, and it might just be the most underrated form of gratitude.
There’s a verse in Proverbs that says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” And one of my favorite examples of this is Jimmy Fallon. After a serious hand injury nearly ended his career, he said, “Every laugh is a blessing. Every show, every song, every silly dance — I get to do this. That’s not lost on me.”
That line stuck with me. Fun isn’t frivolous. It’s fuel. It’s how we celebrate the joy of simply being alive.
When life feels serious or heavy, I’ve learned that laughter is sacred. Gratitude for joy — even small moments — is how we worship the gift of being here at all. So this week, find one fun thing to do for no reason other than that it makes you smile. Play, laugh, dance, sing — and thank God for the ability to do it.
Because joy isn’t a distraction from growth — it’s part of it.
The Bottom Line
Here’s my heart takeaway from this episode: gratitude isn’t something you feel when life is good — it’s the reason life becomes good.
When you practice thankfulness in your faith, your family, your finances, your fitness, and your fun, you start living on purpose instead of in reaction. You stop waiting for “someday” to be happy and realize you already have everything you need to start now.
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Up Next
Next week on Chat With Nat, I’ll be sitting down with a special guest who’s walked through tragedy and found purpose on the other side. We’ll talk about resilience, renewal, and how gratitude can grow even in the dark. Don’t miss it — subscribe now so you never miss an episode.