I was reading one of my favourite blogs today and came across an older post for
A Thousand Gifts. This blogger who has also written a book due Jan. 2011 appropriately named "A Thousand Gifts" started a gratitude journal. A list of 1,000 things. Not things she wants, but things she has. Things to be happy for. I think everyone needs a gratitude journal.
You can read about it at The Holy Experience
And for even more reasons to start:
"At the end of the 10 weeks, participants who’d kept a gratitude journal felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic about the future than participants in either of the other two conditions. To put it into numbers, according to the scale we used to calculate well-being, they were a full 25 percent happier than the other participants. Those in the gratitude condition reported fewer health complaints.
People who kept a gratitude journal reported feeling more joyful, enthusiastic, interested, attentive, energetic, excited, determined, and strong than those in the hassles condition. They also reported offering others more emotional support or help with a personal problem— supporting the notion that gratitude motivates people to do good. And this was not limited to what they said about themselves. We sent surveys to people who knew them well, and these significant others rated participants in the gratitude group as more helpful than those in the other groups."
*Excerpt taken from The Holy Experience blog*
I happened to stumble across this while feeling little gratitude for what I had at that moment and was amazed at how easily I can start my list today:
1. A Dad that will drive 2 hours to stand up and help me with a house of horrors.
2. Terry, who when it really counts, will scour the internet for hours looking for answers.
3. Nichole, my constant voice of reason. My constant friend.
4. Christine's blog. She always manages to write about things that seem to be perfectly written for my situations right now. (I'm starting to think this isn't an accident.)
5. This blog
More soon.
7 comments:
fantastic idea! i've started a list of things i love about the kids to do for them and i think i'll start this too for myself.
oh and i'll expect to be on your list at some point. not in the top 5, but maybe like 397 or something?
good luck with the house situation, it'll pass soon enough :)
This is such a great idea. I think everyone needs a little positive. I think it helps when things are not going well to remind us of what we do have. I SO hope this house issue gets resolved soon and you can get on with things!!! Sending big hugs up your way!!
Oh I'm a firm believer in lists..and this sounds great...I just may have to try making a list like this and see what comes of it...interesting!! have a good weekedn Leah!!
You've made my day...actually, week...and very likely, my month! Thanks, girl! You know you mean that and so much more to me, as well! {{{HUGS}}}
You're so awesome. Seriously. What an amazing idea! I want to play along! Can I be sarcastic in my list? LMAO Can't you imagine me saying... I'm SO grateful for my children who didn't fuss, fight, or argue today. NOT! Hehe No, I don't know if I'll be able to do it.
Or... I'm so grateful that I didn't tell my MIL off when she showed up at my house two hours before she was supposed to while I was still in my pajamas? Hehe
You Go Girl! I don't keep a journal but I do thank God every day for my blessings. And when I'm doing that I name all the positive things that happened to us (as a family) for that day! Sure makes me feel better at the end of the day :o)
(((HUGS))) love that last photo.
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