Do you have a regular end of day practice? Something you do to honour and close the day? For several years now I've kept a gratitude journal, a habit suggested by Sarah Ban Breathnach in her book Simple Abundance. It's my chance to indulge in gorgeous blank books and a soothing way to reflect upon the day by listing 5 things I'm thankful for. Some days this is much easier than others. Sometimes I've wanted to not do the practice, preferring instead to wallow in the awfulness of the day. Sarah acknowledged this saying sometimes the list becomes as basic as breathe, this moment, a pen, paper. So I've persevered. The day my husband had a massive heart attack and somehow survived, the first 4 items on my list were simply his name over and over. The 5th was being grateful for the doctor who operated on him. My list yesterday: 1. 10x10 <3 2. Feeling good--deserving <3 3. Blog done 4. Friends 5. Love To accommodate and acknowledge all days (rough, smooth or nondescript) I added another feature after the 5 grateful things. Not sure where this idea came from but I've been also doing this for many years now. I call it FTD (From This Day) and list 3 events or summaries of the day. Sometimes this can be an expansion of something that I've noted in the gratitude list. Yesterday's FTD: 1. Tai chi then 2 performances of 10x10, spontaneous dinner w Teresa + sitting 1st w Louise, Frank + Teresa then w Liza, Nessa + Russ + walk out w Nessa. 2. Nadia rushing out to hug me tonight then Marion + Roy calling out to me + chatting. 3. Such a high feeling driving home. And I'm not done yet! Finally I end the day with a starred take-away from the day. Yesterday's starred item: *The 10x10 journey* I work midnights sometimes and on those days, my gratitude pages are done in the morning for the day before. It can be an annoying practice sometimes and not alwatys accurate. Sometimes I can barely stay awake and just want it over and done with so won't always go into the deeper feelings of the day or will forget subtle things. But that's okay. It usually all comes back to me if I re-read my days. The photos are of my present journal which was a birthday gift from my son a couple of years ago when he visited Hawaii. He unexpectedly came back to live in his hometown later that year while waiting for his green papers to be processed for working and living in the States. Ironically, the day he left to go and live permanently in the States with his husband, I finished a gratitude book so I started this one, still keeping him close. The book mark I use for all my gratitude journals is very dear to me. It says 'Souley' which is what my cherished childhood neighbour and school friend, Maggie, and I call each other. She gifted me the bookmark one year. If ever I get stuck on my gratitude list, I list the book and my bookmark. I doubt anyone will ever want to read my gratitude pages but I enjoy doing them. I love having the record to look back at. And I love the reminder to cultivate gratitude daily. What are YOU grateful for today? Wishing you a day full of events, people, experiences and observations to be thankful for.
5 Comments
Rachel
4/14/2019 05:18:16 pm
I love this practice. When I had my morning routine I'd do it daily in the morning for the day before or right then. I've got out of the habit doing a day then missing one or two and this post reminds me of how good a practice it is for me-thank you.
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Kimi Bois
4/15/2019 08:14:47 am
I love the idea of a gratitude journal but have never gotten that far. I'm grateful for discovering I can paint, and enjoy not only the process, but the outcome as well, thanks for asking!
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AuthorWelcome! I'm Sue Blott: a writer of all things, a poet at heart, mom, wife, daughter, step-mom, grandma, tea drinker, tai chi-er, mystic, artist, dreamer...and now a blogger! This is my world. Categories |