Finding Gratitude

If you’re reading this, I’m grateful for you. Seriously. This blog idea is something that took some planning and some courage to start. I had the idea, I had the encouragement, and I had the willingness. But I was still hesitant because I’ve started blogs before and then stopped shortly after. I actually wrote the first few posts of this one before even posting the introduction because I wanted to make sure it was something I was going to actually keep at. Hopefully, I stick with it. But thank you so much for reading and coming back each week.

I hope you’ve had a great week! We had a 4-day work week this week because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was nice to have an extra day, especially because it “iced” here where I live. We don’t usually get the good snow; just the icy-sleet stuff. BUT Friday night, we got some of the fluffy white stuff, and it was beautiful and made me so happy.

I would post a picture, but I forgot to take one, and it was all gone yesterday. So . . . No snow day from work. Such is my life.

ANYWAY . . .

Today’s post is about my gratitude journal. And I didn’t say I was grateful for you just for a clever segway; I really am grateful for anyone who takes the time to read this blog and what I have to say. But what a clever segway!

My gratitude journal is from Reminder Binder, just like my planner. I love this brand so much. It’s colorful, organized, and has awesome stickers to go along with their products. And if there are stickers, I am so totally in!

I love that I can decide where to start my week for this journal. I always start on Sunday . . . Like a regular calendar, but if you want to start on Monday, or any other day, you can. You fill it in, so I think that’s awesome.

I start with a sticker. Go figure. If there’s a sticker that goes along with what I am grateful for that day, I put it there. But sometimes, it’s just that I kept my cool, or didn’t feel anxious that day, so it just gets a little sticker. Because it still deserves one because I still had something to be grateful for.

There is a section for “3 people for whom I am ever so grateful” that alternates with “3 experiences for which I’m ever so grateful.” It’s just nice because I can reflect on the people I came in contact with, or something I got to do that week that I want to remember.

And then there is a place for “Random Acts of Kindness.” I use this for R.A.K.’s both ways. If someone did something for me, or if I did something for someone else. I don’t write about mine because I want to pat myself on the back; I just want to remind myself that even little things can make a difference, and sometimes I can make a difference in someone’s day.

I don’t always use the “Words of the Week” section, but sometimes something will stick out and I’ll include it. Sometimes I even have a sticker of the word, which is better than just writing it in my opinion.

This week, I did use the “Words of the Week” section. I had a session with my counselor on Tuesday, and we talked about me doing things at work for myself and my coworkers to boost morale. So, we brainstormed things that could really make us excited and things to just have fun at work together. She shared with me the verse Colossians 3:23, “What you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” In doing things for my coworkers, I can use that as my mission field. Doing things in love, for God’s glory, is part of my testimony, and can make a difference for someone.

Just a little bit later, I was on Facebook and came across a post that pretty much went right along with what we had talked about. About being an Eagle and not a duck. A duck will just sit stagnant and quack and complaint. While an eagle will soar above the crowd, going above and beyond for others to make whatever the experience better. I want to be an eagle. So, here soon, I’m going to jump on here and show you my work plan for Valentine’s Day. :)

Gratitude is something I have been working on. I always tried to think of big things that I was thankful for. And, of course, there’s always the usual “I’m thankful for my family” things. But it’s okay to be thankful for Chick-fil-A peppermint milkshakes and waffle fries, or that I didn’t lose my cool with someone getting mad at me for something I had no control over. It’s okay to be grateful for introvert time, or getting to spend time doing something I like. Looking for the little moments to be grateful for has helped me expand my gratitude and to be thankful for much more than I ever really thought.

This is the journal that really started my love of stickers. Because I wanted to find a sticker to go along with those special moments during the day, I started looking for more stickers to have in my collection. This journal started what I call “finding the sticker moments,” which will be further talked about in a post all its own at some point coming up. But essentially, it’s being aware of those moments in your day that make a difference. The moments you can place a special sticker for. The moment that sticks out against the rest of your day.

I’m grateful for the habit I have been able to form with my gratitude journal. I plan to get another when I am finished with this one to keep the routine alive. I think it’s one of the best things I can do because it helps me find a bright spot in my day. And it reminds me to mindful of those things during the day.