Who leads the way? We do! For these remarkable women, success never overshadowed their ability to show appreciation for their opportunities, backgrounds, and those who paved the path for them.
Chances are, you have plenty to be thankful for. Whether it’s the electricity that powers your home, a job that supports your lifestyle, or the education that enables you to learn, there’s much to appreciate. As we embrace Women’s History Month, it’s crucial to acknowledge our collective gratitude while continuing to forge ahead.
While optimism can uplift your spirits, gratitude helps maintain perspective during both triumphs and setbacks. For ambitious individuals, it can be challenging to recognize what you have while reaching for more. However, these powerful voices remind us that success doesn’t diminish the importance of gratitude for our circumstances and those who came before us.
Gertrude Stein
“Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone.”
Gertrude Stein, an American author known for her modernist works, made Paris her home in 1903 and never returned to the U.S. Her book “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” brought her widespread acclaim.
Stein’s literary salons in Paris welcomed renowned artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway.
Elizabeth Gilbert
“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.”
Elizabeth Gilbert is a celebrated journalist and author whose memoir “Eat Pray Love” became a global sensation, selling over 10 million copies. In 2009, she was recognized as one of Time's 100 most influential people.
Mother Teresa
“The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”
Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity, a religious congregation dedicated to helping those in need across 133 countries. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian efforts.
Tina Fey
“I want to thank my parents for raising me to have confidence that is somehow disproportionate with my looks and abilities. Well done. That is what all parents should do.”
Tina Fey is a talented writer, producer, and comedian who made her mark on “Saturday Night Live” as a head writer. She has won numerous awards, including eight Emmys and two Golden Globes.
Oprah Winfrey
“I am grateful for the blessings of wealth, but it hasn’t changed who I am. My feet are still on the ground. I’m just wearing better shoes.”
Oprah Winfrey, a renowned media mogul and actress, hosted “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the highest-rated talk show ever. Forbes named her the richest African-American in the 20th century.
Dolly Parton
“If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
Dolly Parton is a multi-talented artist with 25 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country charts. She has sold over 100 million records and has received numerous accolades, including eight Grammys.
Margaret Cousins
“Appreciation can make a day — even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”
Margaret Cousins was a dedicated suffragist who founded the All India Women’s Conference in 1927, which continues to support women and children today.
Marilyn Suttle
“When you give appreciation in order to get something it’s manipulation and people can sense it. Appreciate genuinely.”
Marilyn Suttle leads Suttle Enterprises LLC, a training firm focused on personal and professional development, serving major companies like Ford and Pfizer.
Bette Midler
“Cherish forever what makes you unique, ‘cuz you’re really a yawn if it goes.”
Bette Midler, a versatile performer, has earned multiple accolades, including three Grammys and four Golden Globes. She has sold over 30 million records globally.
Maya Angelou
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”
Maya Angelou was a celebrated poet and author, known for her impactful autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” among many other works.
Amelia Earhart
“The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine may be one’s appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and understanding companionship.”
Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, was also a strong advocate for female pilots through her membership in The Ninety-Nines.
Anne Lamott
“My gratitude for good writing is unbounded; I’m grateful for it the way I’m grateful for the ocean.”
Anne Lamott is a prolific author known for her novels and motivational writing guides, including “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.”
Elena Kagan
“I owe a debt of gratitude to two other living justices. Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for me and so many other women in my generation. Their pioneering lives have created boundless possibilities for women in the law.”
Elena Kagan is the fourth woman to serve as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rashida Jones
“My parents are the coolest of the cool on every single level, and it’s because they have a deep appreciation for every moment of their lives.”
Rashida Jones is an actress and screenwriter best known for her role in NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.”
Helen Keller
“It has been said that life has treated my harshly; and sometimes I have complained in my heart because many pleasures of human experience have been withheld from me … if much has been denied me, much, very much, has been given me….”
Helen Keller was a groundbreaking advocate for people with disabilities and the first deaf-blind American to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Audre Lorde
“We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.”
Audre Lorde was a prominent poet and civil rights activist who contributed significantly to feminist literature.
Alice Walker
“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”
Alice Walker is an acclaimed author and activist, best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple.”
Melody Beattie
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
Melody Beattie is the author of the influential self-help book “Codependent No More,” which has sold over 8 million copies.
America Ferrera
“As a child, I didn’t know what I didn’t have. I’m thankful for the challenges early on in my life because now I have a perspective on the world and kind of know what’s important.”
America Ferrera is an actress celebrated for her role in “Ugly Betty,” earning her a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
Beyoncé
“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.”
Beyoncé boasts a net worth of $355 million and has sold over 100 million albums, winning 22 Grammys, making her one of the most celebrated female artists.
