For decades now, ever since reading Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach, I’ve written a gratitude journal most nights. Over the years it’s evolved to the practice it is now and I thought I’d share it with you in this blog. This particular journal was a gift from my step-daughter Crystal and granddaughter Maddie. So the physical journal becomes like a gratitude reminder all by itself. Similarly with the bookmark that I use in all my gratitude journals…a present from my lovely friend Maggie. We have known each other since we were five or six and call each other Souley. Both these things, indeed the practice itself, are a comfort to me and a delightful way to slip into slumber. I work midnights so on those days I still write the journal before bed for the day before including the immediate shift I’ve worked. The first 5 entries are somewhat general things I’m grateful for during the course of the day. FTD stands for ‘From This Day’ and is 3 things/events from this day that made it unique. I can’t remember where I got this practice from but I like it because it takes me a step deeper than the 1st 5 things so I’m giving everything more thought and truly acknowledging this particular day. This doesn’t always include positive things but usually does. Then the starred final entry is like a big win of the day. These are the last two day’s entries: Tues. 14th Sept. 1. Freezer being fixable and not costing too too much. 2. Rain, sun, rain 3. Home 4. Melts & air fresheners 5. Sleep FTD: 1. Lots of cleaning while waiting for Mr. Appliance—dishes and cat poop. 2. Jonathan’s Midday Mindful Moment live. 3. Setting up my tea for tomorrow morning—a little self-care I used to do. * Freezer—again one day soon.* Wed. 15th Sept. 1. Dane 2. NOWW readings 3. Sunshine! 4. Sunflowers 5. Haiku FTD: 1. Lovely long chat with Dane this aftie and catching up. 2. Sitting outside doing puzzles in the afternoon sun. Then mowing the lawn. 3. Arranging dinner out with Rob tomorrow night—I think as compensation for not getting time off work. * Dane * I’m feeling some sadness in cancelling my gym membership and need to remind myself of all the good I still have. I cancelled due to work and being only able to go to one class a week and only going for the tai chi class and feeling guilty for not keeping up with tai chi practice more on my own through the pandemic which I realise is a strange reason to cancel! I don’t know that I’ve ever had buyer’s remorse but I imagine this feeling is similar only in reverse…canceller’s remorse? Missing the camaraderie of the class and the feeling of belonging as well as health benefits. I've been taking tai chi for about 15 years and am feeling nostalgic about it, too, I think. Ah well… Day 259 Gratitude journal night after night after night portal into sleep Day 16 of Effy’s blogalong
4 Comments
Angela F
9/17/2021 03:00:11 am
I have always thought of doing a gratitude journal but have never gotten around to it.
Reply
I loved Sarah's books. I still have both of them. Yes gratitude is important. I used to write them down but now when I go to bed I think of all the things I have to be grateful for and give thanks. Even when not so good things happen during the day, there has to be something grateful.
Reply
Could you find a tai chi class in a park or something on its own instead of part of a gym membership maybe? Then you could still have the benefits of a class. I had some canceller's remorse this week too, I know that feeling, it's a strange one. Happy Blogging! <a href="https://empireofthecat.com">Elle/EOTC xx</a>
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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 |