Article: Creating A Gratitude Journal

**Sara Noel** · 11-27-2002, 01:06 PM

Creating A Gratitude Journal
By Doreene Clement

grate.ful adj. 1 a : appreciative of benefits received: syn.
thankful

4.19.02 Today I am grateful for ___________________ .

As I write the above line, I wonder, "What is my answer?" My first
thought is, "I am grateful for today." Then I realize there are so
many people, places and things for which I am grateful.
Everyday the list grows.

Everyday there are things that happen to us, and for us, that
make us grateful. Sometimes, we even find, that after the
passage of time, we become grateful. Take time today, tomorrow,
and the next day to think about for what or whom you are
grateful. Then write it down in your journal. Or maybe send a
letter or a card, with dates and experiences to that person.

You can start keeping a journal where you date and write in daily,
weekly, or monthly about what you are grateful for, why and the
circumstances that created the gratitude. This becomes a story
and record of your feelings and warm experiences of what you
have given, and also what you have received.

You can also create individual gratitude journals for your spouse,
your children, parents, a friend, etc., that you journal in for a
period of time. You can write about them sharing what you are
grateful for about them. Get a new journal to use for this purpose
only. Pick a colored pen or several colors. You can express your
feelings with certain colors, green for a growth memory, blue for
peaceful times, you decide what each color means and note that
in the front of the journal. Date each entry and describe events,
memories, or thoughts that you have about that person. Describe
what they have given you, what you have observed, what you
wish for them. Tell them about how grateful you are for them in
your life, and why. This becomes a treasured keepsake and a
priceless gift.

Telling someone you are grateful for them in your life, for what
they have done, for who they are is a very powerful expression
of caring and love. Telling a stranger who has given you
something, directions, good service, a smile, that you are
grateful for what they have done and given you is another form
of connection. Spread the idea of gratitude. You may see
something on TV or read about someone. Send them an email or
letter of appreciation for who they are, what they stand for, or for
what they have done.

Today I am grateful for ___________________ fill-in this blank
with what your are grateful for.

For Example - My self, my children, family, work, future, my
recovery, etc.

As I was thinking about what I am grateful for, I of course thought
of my many wonderful, dear friends. So, I decided to email and
ask what they were grateful for. I asked them if I could also share
their responses with you, and here they are

"Today I am grateful that I get to spend time with my children."

"Today I am thankful for a generous heart that loves to spill over
to others...and is constantly replenished by my beautiful family."

"Today I am Grateful for the joy of friends. Today I am grateful
for the light in the eyes of my friends. Today I am grateful for the
roses in my garden. I am so very grateful I met you."

"Today I am grateful that I can continually forgive myself. I can
forgive myself for judging myself harshly when things don't turn
out just the way I was attached to them turning out. I can forgive
myself when I am disappointed that I didn't speak up and say
exactly how I felt about a situation. I can forgive myself because
when I did speak up, it didn't come out of my mouth the way my
mind thought it would. All in all, I am very grateful that I am me. I
wouldn't want to be anyone else in the whole world....and that's
gratitude!"

"Today I am grateful for a wife, 4 children and a daughter-in-law
who are all working hard to find out what it is their Savior would
have them do in life and then do it."

"Today I am grateful for another experience of realizing that I am,
indeed, safe and provided for."

"I am grateful for days, like today, when my gratitude gallops
gleefully ahead of me and I have to skip to keep up with it,
instead of haul it behind me like a wagon load of manure, hoping
it will carry its own weight - by tomorrow."

"I am very grateful for the healing work that I do. I work long,
hard hours, but I really enjoy helping people feel better. How
many people can say that they love their work or feel that they
are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing?"

"Today, I am grateful for a Loving God who nurtures me. I am
grateful for my 89 year old Mother who has cared for me and is
still vibrant, helpful, and alive. I am grateful for my
Granddaughter Hayley who holds my hand, trusts me, and I
know loves me somewhere in her very special heart. I am
grateful for good health which sustains me. I am grateful for my
friends and acquaintances who care about me and bring so
much joy into my life. And, finally, I am grateful for libraries, and
the Internet, and transportation which constantly open new vistas in my horizon and let me appreciate this vast world and its
infinite knowledge and power available to all those who are
curious enough and ambitious enough to embrace them."

"Today I am grateful for gentle friends, and a loving Heavenly
Father."

"I am grateful for the Divine Connections in my life - My family
and friends. We laugh and cry together. With them I feel I belong
and am loved. They are my greatest teachers. We validate each
other. When depleted I seek them out. They renew my spirit I am
blessed. I am also grateful for the roadblocks and failures in my
life. They turned out to be valuable lessons that led me to new
opportunities and connections I wouldn't have had otherwise.
They presented new Lifepaths."

"Today I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life who
challenge me to think differently."

"The scent of freshly cut grass coming through my open
windows."

"Today I am grateful for opening my eyes to see my husband on
my side and my pug at my feet. I am grateful to look out my
bedroom windows to see another day full of possibility as the sun
slowly warms up my sweet backyard alive with quail, doves,
hummingbirds, rabbits and all kinds of natures noises. I am
grateful to feel my breath as it wanders through my body waking
me up. I am grateful that I have one more day to enjoy, and be
amazed, and be involved with life. And I am very grateful that I
can go through another day full of awe and gratitude."

"Today, I am grateful for my life, health, and for my mother still
being alive."

"I'm grateful for the support of many, many wonderful women in
the community."

"I am grateful for being able to carry the message that Light and
Love is always present and everlasting. I get to do this on a
moment to moment daily basis. I am grateful for all the loving
people that I am blessed with in my life. I am grateful that the
universe provides completely and abundantly. I am grateful to be
alive and living full out."

Copyright 2002 Doreene Clement All Rights Reserved

Doreene Clement is the creator of, The 5 Year Journal.
A journal where you can journal the next 5 years, in minutes
a day, all in one book. You can tour the book at
www.the5yearjournal.com. Doreene also writes a monthly column
called, About Journaling. 480.423.8095

**mrscornbread** · 11-27-2002, 02:48 PM

I followed Oprah for a while and I became acquainted with Sara Ban Breathnac (sp). I bought some of her simple abundance books(they are great too BTW) and did the gratitude journal. The journaling above all else changed the way I saw my life no matter how good or how bad things were going in my life at any given point, that journal helped me to focus on the things that are important to ME. In the beginning of my first journal I wrote things like bargains I got at Wal-mart, but after sometime the things I rally noticed were the things that are promised to no one like a beautiful susnst, sunrise, gorgeous bloom on my rosebush, or the cute baby that smiled at me in the grocery store. I encourage everyone to try this it will truly change your life.