“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” —Willie Nelson
I have often, very often, read how identifying things to have gratitude for can bring awareness, peace, and happiness. So, in spurts throughout the years, I have started and stopped a gratitude journal. Yes, these spurts of writing have had years in between. But, with so much going on in our lives, I decided to give it another try.
This time I ignored the idea of paper and pen and used what is always with me—my phone or tablet. I made it simple: a two-column form with a place for the date and my three daily gratitudes.
At first, it was a bit difficult to find three things I was grateful for—our adult son was having his umpteenth surgery with no guarantee that he would walk again, we had just bought a fixer-upper house in the desert mountains, and the contractor who tore it apart had vanished while we were 1,600 miles away.
Want to stress a marriage? Buy a fixer-upper and try to sell the old house where your husband was comfortable in a bad housing market!
So I started with:
“Junior is alive. Love the land (hate the house).” Okay, well, seeing this was to be about gratitude, I struck out the “hate the house” part.
Next day: “Junior can move his leg. Younger son likes his job. Love the land. Thank you.”
The entries continued: “Granddaughter let me hold her without screaming! It is cooler in Minnesota than in Arizona. Like camp hosting. Thank you.”
“Fourth contractor is great! Have 50-amp service to the RV! The well works again. Thank you.”
“Sold the old house. Husband is starting to love the land, too. It is an adventure! Thanks!”
“Moved from RV and storage box to house. Have found new friends and have old friends. My sister, brother-in-law, and old neighbors visited. Thank you.”
“Husband bought a tractor! He is so happy! Bought 13 more acres of land! Thank you!”
I have been writing in my journal diligently (mostly) for more than a year. Some days I do sneak in a few complaints that are definitely not gratitude, but I have found this gratitude journal a place to safely vent and try to get somewhat of an attitude adjustment.
Grateful for the small things, too
Today I stepped out of the RV at an almost empty state park in Oklahoma. My view had grass and trees and no other RVs in sight! Thank you! Our mostly worthless awning actually cast a shadow to sit under. Thank you. The winds have died down, and it was an easy driving day. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
And, yes, it has made me more aware of things to be grateful for, things to notice to be happy about, and to let go of those things that do not belong in my “Three Things Gratitude journal”.
“Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a grandchild, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps.” —Sharon Draper
Here is the article that inspired my gratitude journal. I am sure that it will help you get started on seeing the positive and having gratitude, too.
MORE FROM NANCI:
- Our experience staying at an ‘upscale’ Love’s RV Stop
- Would you pay $70 for a familiar RV site—or try a $27 alternative?
- The big mistake I made that ended with an RV rat infestation!
- Should I unhappily downsize or hang up the keys for good?
- Are we becoming non-nomad RVers? Settling into a stationary RV lifestyle
RVT1268
