Over the years I've tried on and off to have a gratitude journal. This is the simple act of writing down the things you're most grateful for each day. Apparently there is research to show that this process is effective in helping with things like depression and increasing contentment. I tend to be a bit cynical about these things (surprise!). I will concede that it's a much better option than reaching for the cake every time you feel crappy. That has worked out really well for me. NOT.
The problem I have with gratitude journals? It gets a bit boring to write the same things every day. OF COURSE I am grateful for my health - now more than ever, having had cancer. OF COURSE I am grateful for my family. I'm also grateful to have some time to myself away from my family now and again (but you're not supposed to admit that?).
During my cancer treatment, I began the concept of a 'happiness jar'. Except I used a shoe box, because I like to be different. The idea is, you write down anything that made you happy that day, any memorable moment no matter how mundane or seemingly insignificant. Then you pop it in the jar. At a later date you can read them and realise there were happy moments among the shittyness.
I haven't added anything to my happiness box or written a gratitude journal in quite a while.
And while I'm still somewhat sceptical about the practise on a daily basis, it doesn't hurt to revisit it once in a while and remind yourself that you have plenty of positive things to be grateful for. So, here's my A-Z of things I'm currently grateful for.
The things I am currently grateful for:
A - Apples, Avocados, Ass burgers diagnonsense, Air conditioning, Australia: I'm grateful I was born and live here; even if it has been like the seventh circle of hell lately!
B - Boys, Books, Blogging, Brain (I think I have one)
C - Cakies, Carpenters music, Creativity, Cuddles
D - Daydreams
E - Exercise, Eating (everything always comes back to food with me...)
F - Friendships ( online and real life ), Family
G - Green (one of my favourite colours)
H - Home, Health
I = Imagination, Igloo (well, I WOULD be grateful if I had one...it's bloody hot here!)
J - Juices, Joy, Jogging (Just kidding, I never jog!)
K - Karen! (Carpenter, of course! )
L - Love ( I am loved and I love my family )
M - Micky Blue Eyes, Music
N - Notebooks
O - Online world
P - Pens, People I love
Q - Quiet time!
R - Reading, Resilience
S- Silence, Stories, Songs
T - TV, Therapy, TITS ( this is what I call my ipod, plus I AM glad I got to keep my tits on after having breast cancer)
U - Unicorns? ( Okay, I'm stuggling, now!)
V- Vanessa being my name,
W - Words, Writing, Water
X - X - rays (since a mammogram saved my life)
Y - (New) Year
Z - I'm grateful I've reached z so I'm finished!!
There you have it. An A-Z of gratitude.
I just realised yet another reason why I'm uncomfortable with the procedure. I always feel like I'm missing the point and there is some big, important thing that I should be grateful for and I'm such a self-absorbed arsehole to only think of food!
Oh well! Oops.
What are your thoughts about gratitude journals?
What are you most grateful for?
Friday 17 February 2017
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I don't keep a gratitude journal, or a journal (unless you call my blog a journal). I like the slips of paper in the jar idea, though, for times when you are sick or depressed and don't have much energy to write.
ReplyDeleteI loved your A to Z of gratitude. I do not maintain a journal sorts but on my online notes, I jot down things that made me happy. By the end of the month, I pull that all together in the form of a list and it's my source of joy. There are things like family and health that sound that we have them in our grasps but then I have had times where I am more than 'normal' grateful. So, It is sane of count those blessings. :)
ReplyDeleteAh I do love your list and you're not self-absorbed in the least. Although I've stopped keeping a formal list, gratitude is a regular part of my life.
ReplyDeleteI started keeping a gratitude journal in 2010 and just add to it whenever I feel like it. But now at work I keep an electronic reminder that pops up everyday and I list 3 things I am grateful for. It is my reminder that in a life full of busyness I need to take time to be grateful for the good. Your list is awesome by the way! I feel inspired to do an A - Z of my own.
ReplyDeleteI love the A to Z of being grateful! The happiness jars seem like such a good idea but I've never gotten around to it. I too struggle keeping a gratitude journal but I think at some point i need to do a 'what went well and why' challenge for myself!
ReplyDelete