Gratitude Journals are a nice way to remember the simple things in ordinary days. Life can be so stressful and hectic, turning on the news can be heartbreaking, and often “To-do” lists seem monumental and it’s hard to find a moment’s quiet time. A great way to find a little peace is very simple: buy a pretty journal and special pen, and write down every day 5 things you are grateful for.
Do it every evening before you go to bed. You may be surprised that it’s often the little things like having coffee with a friend you haven’t seen in quite a while, hugging your pet, finishing a project, or just sitting down to a quiet house and a cup of herb tea. On difficult days it might be just facing a problem with grace and learning from it. Gratitude journals record the ebb and flow of ordinary days. When you look back through the pages after several months it will surprise you to discover the things you might have forgotten… Things forgotten from the haste of every day lives. And there it is… the phone call about a new baby, a recipe from a friend or a spur of the moment shopping trip with a pal. These are recorded memories of big things and little things.
“Remember the little things! ”
This idea came from one of my favorite authors Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way. For the first month just do it every day. Write down the things you are grateful for in a stream of consciousness, and don’t read it. There are days you might be grateful for just getting out of bed. Most days it’s a stream of little things that bring you joy. After the first month review your efforts. I’ve kept a Gratitude Journal off and on for years. Sometimes I tuck in a concert ticket, or a special card someone sent me. There is no right way or wrong way to do this. I hope it brings a smile to your face. Keep it up for the rest of 2015. Enjoy!
