Every day, as the last piece of that day’s journaling, I write down five things for which I am grateful. Partly to be intentional about gratitude. but also because it feels good to end each journal entry on a positive note. The Book of Joy lists gratitude as one of the Eight Pillars of Joy and devotes an entire chapter to it. I’m sure most of us reading the book are not at all surprised at how much joy comes from gratitude, but this:
…people who focus on gratitude, by keeping a list of what they were grateful for, exercised more often, had fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives, and where more positive about the week ahead compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events. … Grateful people report more positive emotions, more vitality and optimism, and greater life satisfaction as well as lower levels of stress and depression. (The Book of Joy, p. 248)
Well, maybe it is preaching to the choir!
In any event, these four Thursdays in November, I’m going to share three things that made my Grateful list over the past week. Yes, it’s an easy NaBloPoMo post, but I think gratitude (like smiling) is contagious. Thursday seems like the perfect day to share a little Thanks.
1. Healing. My ankle is still bruised, but I’m up and about and even did a 30-minute Pilates workout yesterday.
2. Family living close enough to share birthday celebrations.
3. Crisp clear blue skies.
The three photos were from yesterday’s morning walk. I do love the lake this time of year!
Joining in with Carole and crew for Three on Thursday.
(and now two days down … 28 more to go!)
mere-et-filles 
Hmm … scientific evidence for a better life through gratitude? I mentally note things I'm thankful for, but if an actual list will help me exercise more often, have fewer physical symptoms, and feel better about my life, I am willing to give it a try!
I think this is a perfect Thursday post theme, and I look forward to sharing gratitude with you this month. There is so much in our lives to be grateful FOR! Your lake photos are lovely — and I'm so happy to hear your ankle is healing. Good news! XO
Happy to hear your ankle is healing. I am looking forward to being more intentional about gratitude this month.
What awesome pictures Mary! Wow! And, I am with you on taking a moment or two to focus on gratitude. It is the best part of the day
Hm… perfect reason to buy one of the journals I was eyeing up yesterday. I didn't have a "need" for one then, but I think I do now!! Glad to hear about your ankle.
Thank you for sharing about gratitude! I have a dear friend who has been living with stage 4 ovarian cancer for the past six years and she has taught me so much about gratitude and living life to the fullest in spite of difficult circumstances. I always try to be especially intentional about gratitude during November. Glad to hear your ankle is healing!
Whether writing a grateful last, or silently acknowledging gratitude, being grateful is a cornerstone of a good life. So good to hear you're taking care of yourself and healing well.
Everyday…try to focus on the good! So glad your ankle is improving and that you're getting back to more exercise. Your pictures are beautiful! I'm going to have to go out at lunch this month to grab some shots for the blog as the darkness is just around the corner!
I thought about doing Thankful Thursdays but I feel like I've done it so many times and I'm not sure about coming up with something new. But, after reading your post, I'm also thinking that gratitude can be more immediate, as in, I'm grateful that when I fell this morning (because I was rushing around the house) that I didn't hurt myself!
Such beautiful pictures Mary! Love this post. Like others, I tend to think of things I'm grateful or thankful for continually, but I may just start a little daily or weekly list. I probably need to go get a pretty journal or something, right?
There are so many things in a day to be grateful for. It can be easy to get mired down in the negative (for me anyway), but oh what a difference it makes to just take a minute and say to myself I'm grateful that/for… The lake does indeed look beautiful! So glad your ankle is healing!
every morning in my journal I write what I am grateful for – I write for quiet mornings with coffee in the darkness alone with my pen and paper and thoughts. It is centering for me and sometimes this practice makes 'the glass half empty' girl into a 'glass half full' girl. I think that is awesome. We can rewire our brains.
Thank you for sharing your joy…and bringing more joy into our lives, daily this month and always with your posts and comments. Know that I am truly grateful for the joy knowing you has brought into my life. Delighted to read that your ankle is healing! I'll "see you" tomorrow day!Cheers~
I've written a Three Beautiful Things (which are often things I'm grateful for) post every Thursday since I started blogging 12 years ago. I go through periods where I don't post a lot, but I always show up at least once a week so I can write that one. Sometimes when I'm feeling down, I go back through those posts and am always impressed to find so much beauty in my life. Perspective…
I've been trying to purposely remind myself of things to be grateful for, and to make sure I keep the less positive at arms length. It takes work, but think it's really good for staying balanced.