Lately life has been good, and I have much to be grateful for. I have a happy, healthy two-year-old. I have a beautiful little family and a good career. After years and years of tough work, I have achieved financial stability.

In my motherhood era, I long for ways to stay present. The notion that kids grow up too fast is true and so bittersweet. And how do I stay present? By being grateful.

In the depths of newborn life, I remember asking a more seasoned mom friend. She was helping me through the struggle. I asked her, “How do I stay grateful for what I have?”

What she told me stuck with me.

“Pay it forward,” she said.

And it made sense. If I am lucky enough to have received something to improve my lot in life, there is no better way to be grateful for it. Sharing the wealth is the ultimate expression of gratitude.

Since then, I’ve been looking for ways to do just that. I vowed to first “pay it forward” by helping one of my best childhood friends during her early stages of motherhood. I knew how vital that support was for me during those days. Paying it forward could also look like a small gift of appreciation for the friend who helped me through a rough time or being generous with covering a meal or supporting my parents when and how I can.

There are many ways, both big and small, to pay it forward. It doesn’t always have to involve money or gift-giving.

Want to start practicing this way of expressing gratitude? Need some ideas? Just think about the five love languages (take the quiz if you don’t know yours):

1. Words of Affirmation – Saying or writing supportive things
2. Acts of Service – Doing helpful things to make someone’s life easier
3. Receiving Gifts – Giving gifts that tell them you were thinking about them
4. Quality Time – Spending meaningful time with them
5. Physical Touch – Being close to them and affectionate when and how appropriate

It feels right to channel gratitude this way. We are all connected. It only makes sense to use gratitude for what we’ve received. This way, we lift each other up. If we approach it this way, gratitude can be an endless resource.