Are you Grateful?
Recently I met a dear friend for dinner. We try very hard to connect every couple of months but because of work, family, and life in general, we realistically only see each a few times a year. I enjoy getting together with her because we always have the most intense conversations that I refer back to for several days afterward. Whether it’s about life, love, kids, personal growth, whatever comes up we always seem very connected and “on the same page” about how we feel.
As we moved from topic to topic, trying to hit all that has happened in our lives since we last met, she mentioned that she had received a gratitude journal several years ago and had only just begun writing in it every day. After explaining to me, at a high level, the Simple Abundance concept, and e-mailing me the information, I decided to check out the website to see for myself.
One of the first sections on the website is a welcome letter from the author, Sarah Ban Breathnach. In her letter she states: “for many women today, daily life has become a constant tug-of-war between duty and desire. Which comes first-fulfilling the expectations of others or honoring your own authentic needs and wants?”
She goes on to say that “true contentment lies not at some distant horizon, attainable only by immense sacrifice, but is found all around us. It exists in the creative choices we make each day and the awareness and appreciation of simple pleasures, bountiful blessings, and everyday epiphanies.”
Sarah recommends using a simple and creative tool she calls the Gratitude Journal to capture the wonderful people, experiences and joys that we sometimes overlook in our daily lives.
How many times have we endured something negative in our lives: a missed deadline at work, a traffic jam, or a bad grade on our child’s report card. And we allow that occurrence to overshadow all of the amazing things that we should be grateful for that day such as – a door held open, or the way the clean air smells first thing in the morning, or perhaps a smile from a perfect stranger?
I have tried to live my life by focusing more on good than bad because I feel that if you only focus your attention on the bad, then you will never see the good. I know, life happens, and bad things happen to good people. But, if we remind ourselves everyday of all of the good things in our lives even when things seem dismal and there is no light at the end of the tunnel then the unexpected will have less of an impact.
So, I challenge you to start your own Gratitude Journal and every night write down five things that you are grateful for. Here is my submission:
1. I felt so cozy when I woke up this chilly morning. The fresh, crisp breeze was coming in through my window and it reminded me of when I was a child.
2. I completed my video for my online workshop. I had a very productive day.
3. My two dogs came to me looking for attention while I was working. They always make me smile and feel loved.
4. I had a wonderful chat with my best friend. She knows me, oh so well – I am so blessed to have her in my life.
5. My stepdaughter was excited to tell me about her day. I love her happy nature.
For more information about Sarah Ban Breathnach and the Gratitude Journal visit her website at www.simpleabundance.com.