Three years ago today, I got a gift from my “secret pal” at school. It was a fun mug, some cool fine line pens (insert goosebumps <<here>>) and a three-year gratitude journal.
Over the years, it’s been fun to just record one little snippet of what had been great or wonderful about the day. And in this last year of the journal, I’ve enjoyed looking back over time. (Psst…did you see March 9 from last year?)
I’ve smiled at the memories of lunches with friends.
I’ve shaken my head at the number of times a meal was my daily highlight.
I’ve seen how I’ve gently worked around gratitude during periods of crisis.
And I’ve grown accustomed to taking a moment each day to reflect. So accustomed, in fact, that I bought this little jobby for myself:
Thanks, as always, for the Two Writing Teachers March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Check ’em out!
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 
Listing one thing you are grateful each day is a great habit to get into.
Thanks! It’s also a good way to frame my day, because I spend it looking for things I can be grateful…
The idea of a line a day is inviting. I enjoy going back into journals and reconstructing what was going on in my life based on the entries.
Agreed, Sherri! I enjoy looking back and reliving good moments – and congratulating myself for getting through the hard ones.
For many years, I kept a gratitude jar, but it was lost/broken in a bitter fight at the end of my marriage. SO, I switched to an online version that is just for me. I do however, really like the way you reflect on last year automatically with your old journal…perhaps I need to find one of those….
Anita, I love that despite the fact that your gratitude jar was shattered, you found a way to reclaim it in a way that works for you. That says a lot about you and your fortitude.
…can you go back in your online journal, or is that too clunky?
What a rewarding habit to have developed! I love seeing all those years together. Your post has me thinking again that I should look back on my old notebook entries. Who knows what I’d find!
Oohhh that sounds like a Slice waiting to happen!
I have a five year journal like this and it is fun to look back and remember what happened. This is my third year.
So, you know, too!
When do you like to do your journaling? I’m a bedtime girl…
I’ve added a gratitude section of my morning pages in my journal. Unfortunately, this year has been challenging to wake up early enough to write. I do it as often as I’m able without beating myself up about it though. I also have the One Line a Day notebook. I couldn’t keep up with it so there are lots of blank spaces, yikes! I’ll take your post as a cue to carry it around with me and get back on track, even if it isn’t January 1st. Dates speak for themselves. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks, Alice! Now that it’s a part of my routine (I take about 30-45 seconds at bedtime), it’s like brushing my teeth or taking my meds: it’s just what I do. And there are times I forget a few nights and have to think back, but I’m usually pretty good with it.
And oh! that whole adopt a new habit without beating myself up about it thing. Let me know if you figure it out. It would be worth a million!
Aha! I’ll move it to my nightstand.
I use my “Line a Day” journal to collect quotes that I find inspirational and meaningful. I’m in my 4th year. My hope is that one day my grandchildren will know me better by the words that I found important enought to write down. I gather them from books, Instagram, scripture, essays, etc. It’s a happy book for me to pick up, too, when I need a boost.
So good! I have one of these journals, but somehow couldn’t get the habit going. I might have to try again. . .
That’s a cool book, because we almost always have time to jot down one sentence a day. And it’s filled with so many memories that could easily jog a story. 🙂