Those who know me know that I write; in fact, I was a journalist by profession who morphed into marketing. But those who know me, and those who don’t know me, may be surprised to learn that I keep a journal, and have now done so for about 13 months.
For several years, the idea of the journal was just that, an idea that manifested itself in the silent recitation of five gratitudes nightly. From Oprah I learned that I might feel better and sleep better if I reminded myself nightly of things I should feel grateful for in the day just ended. So for months on end, starting with the personal tragedy that befell my family in 2013, I would recount silently at least five reasons every night for which to be grateful. And my “gratitudes” could not include the obvious, such as the sun shone today or I ate breakfast. (You are more than welcome to include these in your personal list of gratitudes; my rules apply only to myself.)
In recent years, I watched my husband commit his thoughts of the day to a journal, a habit he has maintained periodically throughout his life. It is one of several good mental health habits of his; he also meditates, reads a daily inspirational, and more. But enough about him!
I decided I would try documenting my gratitudes in a beautiful spiral, so that it would be easy for me to review at any moment and remind myself of all the good things in my life. (Others suggest writing a gratitude on a slip of paper and placing it in a jar, watching the jar fill up with all the good things that happen in your life. Maybe a gratitude jar is a better fit for some than a journal). My journal entries are not narratives; they are numbered items and there are never less than five on any given day.
The practice hit home with me this week as friends posted New Year’s greetings in cards and on Facebook, while others made New Year’s resolutions. While “journaling” last night, I decided to spend a few minutes reviewing my entries from the last year.
It was great to see that the little things in life make me happy. The themes were obvious: good conversations with the children (the most frequent); holiday visits with the children; good workouts at the gym; visits from friends and family; travel to new places.
So I don’t have specific New Year greetings or break-through resolutions for the coming year. I will pay continued attention to my physical and mental health (which I consider one and the same), love my family with all my heart; cherish my friends; be kind to the earth. All the reasons to look forward to a healthy and happy 2020! Wishing the same to you…
The Accidental Blank 