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The Best Part of the Day

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH

Confession: I’m waking up from a nap to write this. Sometimes I take a nap before I go to sleep. I call it pre-sleeping. Really, it’s a way to separate my day and calm my mind before writing about today’s gratitude practice.

Before I go any further, I want to mention that my course, 28 Days of Gratitude, is based on the book The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. Some people think it’s a “magical” practice, but the reason it’s called The Magic is because when you practice gratitude consistently, magical things really do start to happen. It could just as easily be called The Miracle or The Hope, because life often feels restored after completing 28 days of gratitude. I’ve done this practice several times, and each time I notice tremendous improvement in my life. Every day brings a new focus for gratitude. Today’s practice is about identifying the best thing that happened today.


I am thankful for Sandjest for providing me with
this butterfly tumbler to promote. I had a
lovely cup of Cederberg Spearmint tea 
to round out my day. 


I had a quiet day at home alone. In case you’ve noticed, I spend a lot of days by myself—not by choice, but because I don’t have a car right now. It often feels like people are “punishing” me for that by refusing to talk to me or spend time with me until I do. They say they’re doing it to “help,” but withholding connection as a way to change someone’s behavior isn’t help—it’s control. It’s a form of emotional abuse.

When someone intentionally isolates another person, or says things like, “I won’t talk to you until you act right,” it sends the message that love and acceptance are conditional. It teaches that being cared for depends on meeting someone else’s expectations. That kind of treatment can make a person feel small, rejected, or invisible—and it often mirrors the same patterns seen in abusive relationships. Connection should never be used as a reward or punishment. Everyone deserves kindness, communication, and belonging.

I’ve experienced a lot of this in my life—people mistreating me and then claiming it was for my own good. As an adult survivor of child abuse, I know that’s not true. Love doesn’t isolate or shame; it listens, supports, and allows room for growth.

I’ve been called stubborn for not giving in to people who demand that I act or speak exactly the way they want. But I’ve learned to recognize that as manipulation. At my day job, I interact with people constantly, and I have over 50,000 followers on social media—so I know I’m not “unlikeable.” The problem isn’t my personality; it’s the gaslighting that comes from people trying to convince me I’m the problem so they can justify their behavior.

Refusing to spend time with someone, ignoring their calls, or spreading rumors that they’re “difficult” are subtle but powerful ways to isolate and control. Once in a while, taking space is healthy—but when it goes on for months or years, it becomes emotional neglect.

I’ve tried to understand where this pattern started. Maybe it goes back to childhood, when I was grounded for months at a time for small things—coming home late because my friend drove me, or muttering something under my breath. I wasn’t a troublemaker. I was just raised in a strict home where even small mistakes meant isolation. Later, as an adult, I saw that same pattern repeat itself—being excluded, silenced, or “locked out” of people’s lives until I “acted right.”

In my biological family, my mother used to lock me in rooms or the basement until I behaved. That experience taught me early that isolation could be used as punishment, and that lesson seemed to follow me into adulthood. It’s painful to realize how many people still use withdrawal and silence as tools to control others. But understanding it also helps me break the pattern.

Even at work, I’ve seen how isolation affects people. I once worked in a basement office for months—just me and one coworker. She eventually quit because the loneliness was unbearable. I understood that feeling deeply, but I stayed. Isolation had become something I was used to.

Still, humans are social beings. No matter how independent we are, we need connection. That’s why I make an effort to talk to people, even if it’s just sitting at a local bar for a short chat or taking a walk. The isolation I’ve experienced has made me more intentional about seeking connection, because it reminds me of how vital it is to our mental and emotional health.

The Best Thing That Happened to Me Today

  1. Connecting with new and old friends online and creating content for my influencer work.

10 Things I Am Grateful For

  1. I am grateful God woke me up today because it was a peaceful day.

  2. I am grateful I had the money to pay my electric bill so I could keep my lights on.

  3. I am grateful for my dog, who is so loving and a wonderful companion.

  4. I am grateful for my friend who texts me every day about little things—I look forward to her texts all the same.

  5. I am grateful for friends who truly listen and respond, who talk to me about my life instead of ignoring me.

  6. I am grateful for my therapist, who taught me that I don’t always need therapy—I just need real friendship.

  7. I am grateful that I am comfortable enough with myself that being alone isn’t as painful for me as it is for others.

  8. I am grateful for all the people I have the opportunity to interact with every day.

  9. I am grateful for my soft pillow and my bed.

  10. I am grateful for everyone who reads my blog posts.

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