Um agradecimento por dia: Deborah Dubner at TEDxJardins

Deborah Dubner presents her personal journey with gratitude, beginning with her facilitation of circle dances since 2007, where moments of connection and thankfulness became meaningful rituals. In 2010, she began posting public thank you messages on Facebook daily, initially feeling embarrassed about sharing gratitude publicly. What started as personal practice gradually inspired close friends to adopt the habit, though she emphasizes that gratitude should be empowering and free, not obligatory. Over three years, she accumulated more than 1,000 thank you posts. At the end of 2013, a significant moment occurred when she discovered a stranger also practicing daily gratitude, which catalyzed a viral response on her Facebook wall. She created a dedicated page called "One Thank You a Day" on January 12th, which quickly attracted around 450 followers without active promotion. Dubner reflects on the power of small gestures, comparing gratitude to a seed that grows into a tree, arguing that individuals have more power to influence their environment than they realize. She addresses common misconceptions about her practice—that she must be happy all the time—clarifying that gratitude is a deliberate choice and behavioral practice, not a personality trait. The page showcases diverse gratitude expressions, from humorous observations (like thanking air conditioning on hot days) to deeply personal stories, demonstrating that gratitude can emerge from ordinary daily life rather than extraordinary events. She challenges the distinction between having a good life because one practices gratitude versus practicing gratitude because life is already good. Finally, Dubner conducts a guided gratitude exercise with the audience, having them reflect on what they're grateful for and share with neighbors, demonstrating the transformative power of communal appreciation.