Gratitude. That word has been sitting so heavily on me lately... not like a heavy weigh-me-down load, but a burden that is burning within me to express more often.
For Christmas this year, one of the gifts I received was a Gratitude Journal from my mom. I thought this gift was so thoughtful. Mom knows how much I love to write, and some things are best to be written just for yourself—so this little journal is the perfect spot to do it. And maybe it's just me, but every time I've ever kept a journal or diary, I've always written when I've felt down in the dumps and they end up filled with negative things & complaint after complaint. The Gratitude Journal is different... it's meant to be filled simply with things you're grateful for, little beautiful things you find in your day, and moments you want to jot down and remember—it's all meant to be positive and uplifting. I love it so far—I've written small entries each day since Christmas, and already I know that this will be the place where I flip through and read when I'm having a hard day or need a little pick-me-up.
This small journal has made me look at things a little bit differently lately. I'm appreciating the smallest things. I'm noticing things I hadn't noticed before and really taking the time to enjoy it all. I know that the words grateful, blessed & thankful are said around here all too often... but I don't think that being too grateful is ever something I'll feel bad about. As 2014 approaches, I know there are going to be some big, big changes coming my way. And through it all, I'll hold the blessings close to my heart and truly be grateful for each day.
19 comments:
I love the idea of a gratitude journal. After battling depression for so many years, I've realized the only way to win the small battles is think about all the things I'm grateful for, even if it's something small like a car door handle that now works. That's such a sweet gift!
I have the same journal! Gratitude definitely unlocks the door to unbridled joy.
Happy New Year, sweet Aunie! x
What a nice gift and you received it so well! You are a role model in so many ways. I am lucky to know you!
My sister bought me the same journal, and I'm actually making it one of my new year's resolutions to write in it most days this next year. (I ultimately want to see if I can fill the whole thing in one year---we shall see.)
Glad to see someone else is on the same wavelength :)
Awe. Adorable post. I love journals. I miss mine. I really need to go out and buy me one.
Love this journal! What a wonderful idea. I always tend to right down negative stuff in journals as well.
Hmmm, maybe I need a gratitude journal!
I think you would absolutely love the Gratitude Journal. The neat thing is is also occasionally gives you prompts to write about. I've loved it so far!
It's wonderful... such a sweet little token of the beautiful things in life :)
Thank you, Kurt! Ditto right back at you!
That's my goal, too! I'm trying to write a little bit each day... I don't know if I'll be able to take it with me to basic training, but you just never know!
They always make me angry when I go back over and read through them. This way, we only remember the most positive things :)
I haven't used a journal in years and have always loved to look back at what I've written. Perhaps I will start this. A stupid question - where do you keep it? Does your husband feel jealous that he cannot read it? .. or does he read it? I guess if it's a gratitude journal then it wouldn't be anything that would be "bad" for him to read .. does this make me sound weird? Fingers crossed that you know what I mean. I remember when I was like, fifteen years old and my mom read my journal and, well, you can imagine how that went.
I would love to know where you can find a Gratitude journal! That sound like a great idea! :)
I have thrown journals away because they were full of such negativity that rereading them just made me feel awful. Not the legacy I would want to pass down. I love gratitude journals, I need to make an effort to write in mine more.
I love this! Happy New Year Aunie!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Hi! You know, I keep it right on my bedside table. Right out in the open. I haven't told Daniel that he can't read it... but to be honest, I don't even think he is concerned about it. If he did read it, that wouldn't bother me... it's all good stuff in there, so I don't mind. But, shoot, even if he read my previous journals, I wouldn't be upset. Sometimes there are things in there that he could learn from :) haha! But honestly, Daniel knows I love to journal and write and blog... and sometimes he reads and sometimes he doesn't. I think when it's a journal filled with good things there's nothing wrong with it.
My mom bought it in a little local shop here, but I found it on Amazon when I searched for it ;)
I haven't thrown mine away, but they are definitely hidden where no one else will ever find them! :)
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