---
title: "Five Minutes Alone and Small Steps, Day 11: Gratitude"
description: How do you get five minutes alone? Meet Colleen, who shares a dose of gratitude for day 11 of our Small Steps Blog Tour.
---

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# Five Minutes Alone and Small Steps, Day 11: Gratitude

Oct 11, 2013 11:30:42 PM  |  by [Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sarah-reinhard)

As we reflect on theme of gratitude today with [the Small Steps Tour](http://catholicmom.com/book/small-steps-for-catholic-moms/blog-tour-and-contest-for-small-steps-for-catholic-moms/), we thought we'd take a moment to also highlight some of the humorous ways moms grab five minutes.

Today, meet [Colleen](http://www.colleenduggan.net/2013/10/one-big-fat-happy-family.html), a Catholic wife, mom of 5, and writer. She reminds me that sometimes, the smallest things can bring the greatest gratitude.

![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_7519.jpg?width=230&height=346&name=IMG_7519.jpg)

Colleen is grateful for Barney. Yeah, the big purple dinosaur. And after I chuckled (because I've been grateful for the same more than once), I realized that approaching my day with gratitude really changes it. Saying thanks to God leads me to more than the self-focused pity party that's just waiting for me to join.

And I'd like to note that I'm sure Colleen is grateful for a lot more. (So am I.) For one thing, I'm grateful for this Small Steps Blog Tour, because it's forcing me to think through some things I usually try to ignore...

**Now, if you haven't already, join us at [I Have to Sit Down](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/simchafisher/2013/10/11/small-steps-blog-tour/) for some *Small Steps*.** And don't forget to enter the ["Five Minutes Alone" contest](http://catholicmom.com/book/small-steps-for-catholic-moms/five-minutes-alone-contest/) that's going on as part of our blog tour!

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#### About the Author

![Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/SARAH%20REINHARD.jpeg)

### [Sarah Reinhard](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sarah-reinhard)

When she’s not chasing kids, chugging coffee, or juggling work, Sarah Reinhard’s usually trying to stay up read just one … more … chapter. She writes and works in the midst of rural farm life with little ones underfoot. She is part of the team for the award-winning *Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion*, as well as the author of [a number of books](http://sarahreinhard.com/my-books/).

## Related Blog Articles

[

 Small Steps Blog Tour, Day 11: Gratitude

Read

](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/10/11/small-steps-blog-tour-day-11-gratitude)

[

 Five Minutes Alone and Small Steps, Day 6: Gentleness

Read

](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/10/06/five-minutes-alone-and-small-steps-day-6-gentleness)

[

 Five Minutes Alone and Small Steps, Day 5: Grace

Read

](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/10/05/five-minutes-alone-and-small-steps-day-5-grace)

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