Grateful for the lessons I am learning
it has been another incredible weekend.
Two years ago, I hadn’t even heard of the small West Cork village of Kilbrittain, and now I’ve had the privilege of being a small part of the backroom team of the Munster champions.
Working with these young men through mindset sessions this season has been something special. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful young men can be when they meet both adversity and opportunity.
And one theme kept showing up again and again: gratitude.
Gratitude goes far beyond just sending a card or telling someone you appreciate them. It is backed by research and can strengthen resilience, enhance performance, deepen relationships, and build mentally stronger teams.
Studies consistently show:
It supports wellbeing and emotional regulation in young people.
It enhances empathy, connection and confidence in adolescents.
It even improves performance under pressure in sport.
Yet we rarely teach young men gratitude. Worse, boys are often socialised away from expressing appreciation at all, something highlighted by the Greater Good Science Center’s research on men and gratitude.
But when young men learn to name what they value, recognise the people around them, and appreciate small wins as much as big ones, something shifts. They become more grounded, more connected and more ready to lead.
This weekend reminded me that gratitude isn’t just a wellbeing practice, it's an edge that can make our young men even better.
So here’s my question for you:
What would happen if we taught gratitude as intentionally as we teach skills, tactics or academics, especially to the young men we work with? If you’re a coach, educator, or parent just think about how foundational gratitude can be.
And if Kilbrittain taught me anything this year, it’s that grateful young men can be the most inspirational you'd ever meet.
