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Creating A Gratitude Journal
by Doreene Clement
grateful adj. 1 a : appreciative of benefits received: syn. thankful
4.19.02 Today I am grateful for ___________________ .
As I write the above line, I wonder, "What is my answer?" My first
thought is, "I am grateful for today." Then I realize there are so many
people, places and things for which I am grateful. Everyday the list
grows.
Everyday there are things that happen to us, and for us, that make us
grateful. Sometimes, we even find that after the passage of time, we
become grateful. Take time today, tomorrow, and the next day to think
about for what or whom you are grateful. Then write it down in your
journal. Or maybe send a letter or a card, with dates and experiences to
that person.
You can start keeping a journal where you date and write in daily,
weekly, or monthly about what you are grateful for, why and the
circumstances that created the gratitude. This becomes a story and
record of your feelings and warm experiences of what you have given, and
also what you have received.
You can also create individual gratitude journals for your spouse, your
children, parents, a friend, etc., that you journal in for a period of
time. You can write about them sharing what you are grateful for about
them. Get a new journal to use for this purpose only. Pick a colored pen
or several colors. You can express your feelings with certain colors,
green for a growth memory, blue for peaceful times; you decide what each
color means and note that in the front of the journal. Date each entry
and describe events, memories, or thoughts that you have about that
person. Describe what they have given you, what you have observed, what
you wish for them. Tell them about how grateful you are for them in your
life, and why. This becomes a treasured keepsake and a priceless gift.
Telling someone you are grateful for them in your life, for what they
have done, for who they are is a very powerful expression of caring and
love. Telling a stranger who has given you something, directions, good
service, a smile, that you are grateful for what they have done and
given you is another form of connection. Spread the idea of gratitude.
You may see something on TV or read about someone. Send them an email or
letter of appreciation for who they are, what they stand for, or for
what they have done.
Today I am grateful for ___________________ fill-in this blank with what
your are grateful for.
For Example - My self, my children, family, work, future, my recovery,
etc.
As I was thinking about what I am grateful for, I of course thought of
my many wonderful, dear friends. So, I decided to email and ask what
they were grateful for. I asked them if I could also share their
responses with you, and here they are.
"Today I am grateful that I get to spend time with my children."
"Today I am grateful for a generous heart that loves to spill over to
others...and is constantly replenished by my beautiful family." "Today I
am Grateful for the joy of friends. Today I am grateful for the light in
the eyes of my friends. Today I am grateful for the roses in my garden.
I am so very grateful I met you."
"Today I am grateful that I can continually forgive myself. I can
forgive myself for judging myself harshly when things don't turn out
just the way I was attached to them turning out. I can forgive myself
when I am disappointed that I didn't speak up and say exactly how I felt
about a situation. I can forgive myself because when I did speak up, it
didn't come out of my mouth the way my mind thought it would. All in
all, I am very grateful that I am me. I wouldn't want to be anyone else
in the whole world...and that's gratitude!"
"Today I am grateful for a wife, 4 children and a daughter-in-law who
are all working hard to find out what it is their Savior would have them
do in life and then do it."
"Today I am grateful for another experience of realizing that I am,
indeed, safe and provided for."
"I am grateful for days, like today, when my gratitude gallops gleefully
ahead of me and I have to skip to keep up with it, instead of haul it
behind me like a wagon load of manure, hoping it will carry its own
weight - by tomorrow."
"I am very grateful for the healing work that I do. I work long, hard
hours, but I really enjoy helping people feel better. How many people
can say that they love their work or feel that they are doing exactly
what they are supposed to be doing?"
"Today, I am grateful for a Loving God who nurtures me. I am grateful
for my 89 year old Mother who has cared for me and is still vibrant,
helpful, and alive. I am grateful for my Granddaughter Hayley who holds
my hand, trusts me, and I know loves me somewhere in her very special
heart. I am grateful for good health which sustains me. I am grateful
for my friends and acquaintances that care about me and bring so much
joy into my life. And, finally, I am grateful for libraries, and the
internet, and transportation which constantly open new vistas in my
horizon and let me appreciate this vast world and its infinite knowledge
and power available to all those who are curious enough and ambitious
enough to embrace them."
"Today I am grateful for gentle friends, and a loving Heavenly Father."
"I am grateful for the Divine Connections in my life - My family and
friends. We laugh and cry together. With them I feel I belong and am
loved. They are my greatest teachers. We validate each other. When
depleted I seek them out. They renew my spirit I am blessed. I am also
grateful for the roadblocks and failures in my life. They turned out to
be valuable lessons that led me to new opportunities and connections I
wouldn't have had otherwise. They presented new Lifepaths."
"Today I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life who
challenge me to think differently."
"The scent of freshly cut grass coming through my open windows."
"Today I am grateful for opening my eyes to see my husband on my side
and my pug at my feet. I am grateful to look out my bedroom windows to
see another day full of possibility as the sun slowly warms up my sweet
backyard alive with quail, doves, hummingbirds, rabbits and all kinds of
natures noises. I am grateful to feel my breath as it wanders through my
body waking me up. I am grateful that I have one more day to enjoy, and
be amazed, and be involved with life. And I am very grateful that I can
go through another day full of awe and gratitude."
"Today, I am grateful for my life, health, and for my mother still being
alive."
"I'm grateful for the support of many, many wonderful women in the
community."
"I am grateful for being able to carry the message that Light and Love
is always present and everlasting. I get to do this on a moment to
moment daily basis. I am grateful for all the loving people that I am
blessed with in my life. I am grateful that the universe provides
completely and abundantly. I am grateful to be alive and living full
out."
About the author
Doreene Clement is the creator of, The 5 Year Journal, a journal
where you can journal your life in one book for 5 years.
You can tour the book at:
www.the5yearjournal.com
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