Awareness

As I approach the final day of my five-week retreat on the island of Vieques, I am savoring my last sunrise and enjoying a cup of coffee as I reflect on my gratitude journal entries.

I recorded nightly as a way to reinforce my memory and to increase my awareness of just how much I have to be grateful for daily. Most of my “gifts” are not big “significant” things, but rather small events that bring a smile to my face regardless of whatever else might be happening in a given day.

Some of the things I am grateful for are solitude, time out, no set schedule, working in my garden, amazing sunrises, billowing clouds that constantly change shapes, sunsets, snorkeling, darting humming birds, exquisite passion flowers, clear night skies with a plethora of stars, cool breezes that rustle the leaves, the disappearance of mosquitos and end of one solid week of rain, sunny blue skies, etc.

Reviewing my journal has made me feel ready to go back home to tackle my “real” life. It is my intention to take my journal with me as a reminder of my abundant blessings.I plan to continue recording the things for which I am grateful. I know keeping a journal, makes a difference and helps me to focus on the positive.

Enough about me, what about you? Do you keep a gratitude journal? Are you aware that people who keep a gratitude journal are happier, less stressed and are more open and aware of the abundance in their lives? They experience and appreciate the world more fully than people who do not make the time to keep a journal.

If you consider keeping a journal, here are some helpful tips, further thoughts and benefits to keep in mind:

*Before you go to bed, list at least five things you are grateful for. Anything and everything counts, small or large.
(You could write down people, places, things, ideas, qualities, feelings, etc., your choice).

*Next to each item on your list, write a few words about what you are grateful for.

*If you want to get more creative in making your journal, you could add quotes, photos, drawings etc.

*There are no rules, no right or wrong way to do this.

*Habits take 21 days to stick. Think about giving yourself three weeks to try keeping your journal.

*People who keep gratitude journals are become happier because they pay greater attention and focus on the blessings present in each day and enjoy a sense of well being and are less stressed and have a better perspective than those who do not keep a list.

“Doing a gratitude list can shift your perspective in an instant.”

What do you have to lose? Why not try?

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