Gratitude Journals- A Look on the Silly Side
Hello everyone. It's Melissa popping in today for a little look at gratitude. I know we focus on that during November as a part of Thanksgiving and with our New Year, we set goals and resolutions. Many people want to be more positive this year. It seems like 2015 was a pretty yucky year for so many people...at least according to my Facebook feed.
According to Wikipedia.."A gratitude journal is a diary of things for which one is grateful. Gratitude journals are used by individuals who wish to focus their attention on the positive things in their lives...participants who kept weekly or daily gratitude journals had greater psychological and physical benefits when compared to participants who did not keep gratitude journals."Link to Wikipedia
I don't keep my own gratitude journal but I do text my best friend every day. We text what we are grateful for and it help support each other as well as keep in touch, since we live so far apart. Sometimes our texts are profound and other times, simple. We each are facing so challenges that we love being able to keep in touch and help each other. So a journal doesn't have to be a book, but some way that you reflect and share what you are grateful for.
I thought it would be fun to see what some of my characters would write if they wrote in a gratitude journal. Mind you I took it on the silly side.
Betsie Wolfe: I am grateful that I found my favorite lipstick when I dropped my purse. Too bad I had to witness that murder.
Jonah Pigg: I'm grateful that Betsie didn't freak out about staying in my old bedroom. At least the sheets were clean... I think.
Michelle Alt: I am grateful for my mom helping out with my daughter and our home. I'd never have time to protest if she wasn't here.
Preston Hall: I'm grateful I didn't continue with the polo career. There's no way I'd be able to compete against the British Royals.
Keira Matthews: I'm grateful for my little furry baby. He's always there for me, even when Rob's too busy. At least, Gris kisses me.
Rob Matthews: I am grateful for a vacation, even if it's supposed to be a second honeymoon with my wife who doesn't trust me. Maybe there'll be some good fishing.
While these are silly gratitude journal entries, I could see the characters being honest in a journal they think no one else would read. Do you keep a gratitude journal? What would your characters say in a journal? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Don't forget to drop by next month at this same day for more silly insights into my writing, books, characters and life.
I am grateful for all of you who read the blog, visit my page and website, and buy my books. You are so important to me! I wish you a happy and prosperous 2016!
This is great: Betsie Wolfe: I am grateful that I found my favorite lipstick when I dropped my purse. Too bad I had to witness that murder. LOL - hope 2016 is awesome for you, Melissa. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tina. I do have some flighty characters!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a gratitude journal. I need to try to focus more on gratitude. Love what your characters are grateful for.
ReplyDeleteI started this year over doing the typical journal. The biggest difference is what I am grateful for. For the journal, I could put in more emotion and often glean gems for my writing. I like your examples!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your idea of a gratitude journal. It would certainly balance out the negativity that creeps into every day life. Your characters are wonderful and fun and I'll just reference the lipstick incident that Tina mentioned as one of my favorites:) Best of luck to you and yours in the coming year!
ReplyDeleteThank you all. The journal is a nice way to combat the negativity, but it's not the only way. I've seen someone post putting notes inside a jar that you can reflect on at the end of the year and it's fun to see it filling up. Also one thing I learned is to go with depth...give the why and your thoughts or feelings. After all, gratitude should be deep and personal.
ReplyDeleteFun post, Melissa! A cute idea that allows one to get a sense of their personalities. Hope you have a terrific 2016.
ReplyDeleteThese are great. And hopefully the sheets were cleaning - lol
ReplyDeleteNever heard of these before.
Thank you Daryl and Rose. Sometimes I have to let my characters get silly! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post! I've been keeping a gratitude journal for over ten years. Each night, I write at least five positives from my day. It's great negativity buster! Thanks for sharing, Melissa :)
ReplyDelete