In addition to my regular notebook, I also keep a gratitude journal.  Sometimes, I buy the that Sarah Ban Breathnacht puts out as a companion to her book, Simple Abundance, and sometimes, I just buy a pretty blank book for the purpose of gratitude.  It’s a pretty simple concept–at the end of each day, you simply write down five things that you are grateful for.  Even on horrendously bad days when it feels like everything has gone wrong, there are good things–family, friends, health, a new day coming, sleep, etc.  I love the gratitude journal–I have been keeping them for about ten years and due to the nature of gratitude, they are always happy and uplifting to reread, and they also work as a calendar and a sort of written scrapbook.  Sometimes it’s just fun to look at last year’s journal and see what I was grateful for last year, or what I was doing.  Few things are more uplifting to me than counting my blessings!

With that said, here is today’s entry:

1. Waking up and laughing, smiling, and snuggling with my favorite person on the planet, my husband.

2. A beautiful fall day with lots of sunshine–took the puppy out for some frolicking in the field.

3. A clean house.

4. Time to be at home and rest.

5.  Watched P.S. I Love You

     Taking time to give thanks or count your blessings makes you feel more grateful and satisfied with life.  I find this is especially helpful on days that were just so-so.  When I take a moment to reflect on all of the things that went right, I gain a much more positive perspective. 

     Normally, I am not a person who “hates Mondays,” but lately they have been hard.  Since I am teaching summer school, when I start the week, I feel like I am jumping on a very fast roller coaster with limited time to toss out the information and gather what comes back (essays) before sending them out again (graded).  That probably didn’t make a lot of sense to anyone who doesn’t teach, so I will just share my little gratitude list for June 29, 2009.  One more note, I got started keeping a Gratitude Journal after reading Sarah Ban Breachnacht’s Simple Abundance many years back.  The habit stuck and I save them all.  It’s fun to look back on this date last year and see what was on my gratidude list.

June 29, 2009

• Waking up with my loving husband
• The clawfoot tub & bubble baths
• Fresh coffee
• Summery dresses and sandals
• That God is keeping my car running–217,000 miles & still going!
• Pleasant co-workers
• My students–they are a likable bunch even on a Monday morning.
• Air conditioning!
• Getting all of my students’ papers graded and giving good feedback.
• All of the people who called to check on me after my little health episode on Saturday.
• 3/4 sleeved sweaters
• ceiling fans
• Diet 7-up
• Cold water
• Seeing some of my bulbs bloom
• Fourth of July weekend coming!

     I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.  I hope my little list inspires you to make one of your own.  Blessings to you on a Monday night.