This morning, I read this about gratitude journals:
“A gratitude journal is a blank notebook where you write lists of things for which you are grateful. Every night, before you go to bed, you take about three minutes to write down a list of five things. (Or any do-able number.) Some days, you might be feeling particularly abundant, and those five things just fly onto the page. Some days, it might feel like you can’t think of even two things. That’s when you remember how amazing it is that you even have a roof over your head or food to eat. That’s when you remember your cat (again) and the fact that you have hot water for a bath. No matter what you’re feeling, you find time to write down these five things every single night without fail. And they don’t always have to be new and different.
It helps by making you be aware of the things that you are thankful for, the blessings, the things you write about on the journal at the end of each day. It cultivates and enforces an everyday positive attitude. That’s good, right? So I’ve decided to start one. I’ll probably get a real notebook and pen for the therapeutic tactile feedback but for now, I’ll start here:
- I’m thankful for my family, my mom, my dad, my siblings, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins, and their kids. Their advice and words of comfort helped me greatly. And their presence especially during New Year’s Eve, was heart-warming.
- I’m thankful for my friends especially Erwin, Crissy, and Val, who offered me their support.
- I’m thankful for my in-laws for their acceptance and understanding. For giving me advice. And for letting me visit Jeanne.
- I’m thankful for Gretchen who decided to stay for a while longer and wait with me. She makes the house less empty.
- I’m thankful for Jeanne who welcomed me warmly when I visited her. She showed me what to love with the heart of a child means.
- Today, I’m thankful for Michelle finally talking to me. I know she’s still hurting and it took a lot of effort on her part. There’s a long way to go with no end yet in sight but it’s a step forward.