Gratitude List

My Word of the Week this week is gratitude. I have used this word recently but as we are taking part in Blogtober for the first time and this is the prompt, I thought I’d stick with it and let you know some of the things we are grateful for.

I remember when Covid first started affecting us all. Public places were closed and many people followed the guideline of staying at home except if they had essential travel to do. The enforced lockdown affected a lot of people, myself included. One day though, out of the blue, a thought came to me. Why not focus on what good can come out of this situation rather than focus on all the negatives. I wanted a way too to share this idea with others so that hopefully their mental health would not be negatively impacted. It’s then that I thought: ‘let’s make use of a gratitude journal to note the things we were grateful for.’.

The Gratitude Journal

Thank God for online places to shop such as Amazon. As I was not able to go out to shop and deliver the gratitude journals to people so what I did was buy them on Amazon and send them to friends and acquaintances whose addresses I knew. Imagine their delight when they opened up the package to find their little gift. I was pretty chuffed that I had thought of the idea and pleased too that people had something positive to focus on. And they weren’t at all expensive.

Mental Gratitude List

Of course, you don’t have to commit your gratitude list to paper or even to an electronic device. I suggest though that each day you make a conscious effort to think of things that you are grateful for. That is what I do, and sometimes I do it multiple times a day. So I am going to share with you some things that I have thought of recently that I am grateful for:

• A sound mind with the ability to discern between right and wrong
• A place I can call home
• Fellowship and friendship with my sister
• Children who are doing well
• Autumn colours
• Enough to eat and drink
• Skills that I can use to enhance my home and also to gift to others
• A growing YouTube channel, with very supportive subscribers
• My faith that keeps me grounded despite all that is happening all around us
• an education and knowledge that we can use to earn a living
• good health and healthcare professionals
• The little sunshine that’s there these days
• Bloggers who take the time to write. This gives me an insight into how others are doing.
• Always having a song on my heart or on my lips. This is such a saviour for taking me out of a slump
• Fall colours in nature. I find them beautiful
• Pampas grass… have you ever stopped to admire them? It seems like now is the season for them too!

As I have said, I think having a gratitude list does a lot for your soul and you should focus on that rather than on the negatives. And If you haven’t got a gratitude journal, we would highly recommend getting on and creating your own list of things you are truly grateful for.

Bless you, all.

Jo and Leisa