Gratitude Journal

I hope that you and your family enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break!  

For years, I have read the research about the benefits of writing down what you are thankful for.  And during COVID I decided it was time that I truly put that to the test and I began keeping a gratitude journal.  And so every day, I pause to reflect on what 3 thigns I had to be grateful for in that day.  I try to be really intentional about not just writing the same things over and over again because it would be easy to say: Family, Friends and Health on repeat... and it would absolutely be true.  But for me, it was the challenge to dive deeper and once I had acknowledged something I needed to be more specific or find something different to be able to identify.  It has been a game-changer for me.  Don't get me wrong, I still have bad days, but even on the worst days I have not had any problems identifying at least 3 things from the day which made me grateful.  And how lucky does that make me?!?  

As we leave Thanksgiving behind... a time when many of us all paused to think about what we were thankful for I'd like to issue a challenge to all of my students... every day, for the next month, please write down 3 (different) things that you are thankful for that day.  You don't need a fancy journal.  Just open up the notes section of your phone or grab a piece of notebook paper, write the date and I'm Thankful For... and then list out 3 things.  Repeat that process for the next month.  I will be excited to hear some of the things you come up with and how being intentional about identifying the things you are grateful for impact you.

In case you are wondering, here is what will make my list tonight when I fill out my journal.

12/1/24: I'm Thankful For...

- Having leftover Chocolate Caramel Brownies

- Being able to sleep in for the last 5 days

- That my sister's family made it home safely after visiting for the holiday

Please know that I am also thankful for each of YOU who read this blog!  And I hope that you will consider taking on my challenge to see how focusing on gratitude impacts you over the next month.