Some Thoughts on Gratitude and Blogging...

Since I started writing this blog I have found myself looking more closely at the things I do each day and making decisions based on what I intend to write about. I am not sure if this means I am changing things just to have something to say but when I consider that I realise that maybe that was part of the intention in writing this blog - to motivate myself to look at things differently and change the way I do things.  Because I am writing about it and putting it out there for others to read I am thinking of what things would be interesting to write about. I am aware that it is likely hardly anyone will read this as it is one of millions of blogs on the internet but knowing someone could makes me feel someone is holding me accountable to my intent to be more mindful about unnecessary spending and waste.

It has reminded me of when I have kept a gratitude journal on several occasions in the past - something I have done for long stretches of time when things were not going well and I was bogged down in being a parent and working and feeling a bit like I'd lost myself. I felt the very act of having to write about being grateful for something made me feel so much better as I found myself noticing things during the day that gave me pleasure, things I thought would be good to write in my gratitude journal at the end of the day. My very first entry in my very first gratitude journal was on Jan 14th 2002 - just over 18 years ago. My first entries were about finding a journal to start this undertaking, watching my baby daughter sleep contentedly, "soft, wet rain" and anticipation of a holiday with good friends after a safe landing of the plane.  I look back at those journals now with pleasure and find they are almost like mini diaries as I documented things about my life and my family and I now treasure the things I wrote in them. They are priceless to me. 

This blog might end up being a bit like that - because I am aiming to write something down each day I am more actively seeking out the alternatives to things that will cost less and maybe benefit myself and my family more. The thought of me working less so that I can have more time at home pursuing other interests means we will need to curb our spending and this has become a growing idea that I think will give me even more incentive to not spend frivolously. The added (and possibly only) bonus is that this blog will end up being a record of things I have done and become a bit like a journal for me so even if no-one reads it I have taken the time to write things down that I can look back on and remember. That is worth millions to me without spending a cent! 

Have you ever tried gratitude journalling or keeping a record of your thoughts or activities? It is a great way to get the thoughts out of your head, gear yourself to more positive thoughts and ideas and motivate you to find the bright side of even the dullest day. I highly recommend trying it and for the cost of a few dollars buying a journal you can be on your way...