Some of the readers wonder why I keep The Gratitude Journal, especially the Online Gratitude Journal. I decided to answer the question, hopefully once and for all times.
I must say that I keep a much more personal journal in my daily life. Sometimes it reflects the content of this site — or perhaps, more correctly, this site reflects the content of my personal journal.
So, why do I write so publicly? It is my hope that some people will find it entertaining enough to read and then reflect on their own lives. Even when things go a little wrong, there is always something for which we can express gratitude. I hope others will use my online gratitude journal as a guide, not to how they should live their lives, but as a guide to helping them find gratitude in their daily lives.
Some readers have had moments when they have emailed me to say that they “get it.” They have been reading the stories and the daily experiences I share when suddenly they have realized that some of the things for which I express gratitude are no grander than what they experience. It is all a matter of attitude.
Perhaps, I could have spent my time writing a “how-to” guide or laying out steps for keeping a gratitude journal. But, there are enough how-to’s and why-to’s in the world. Telling someone why they should keep a journal or how they should write is a bit beyond my scope of expertise. Everyone who keeps a journal has a reason. Everyone writes differently.
I prefer to write my journal for myself. The stories that lead to my gratitude are everyday stories. There is nothing special about my life — other than I live it and I love it. But, by writing down what leads to my feelings of gratitude helps me re-capture the feeling over and over again.
Some days when I don’t write a post, I read this journal. Some days, like everyone else in the world, I need to be reminded of all the things that have brought me happiness, contentment, satisfaction, peace, love, and gratitude. So, for those who wonder why I write this journal, it is not as much for you as it is for me. And, if you can see a bit of your life reflected in mine, perhaps you, too, will begin a journal. It serves well for those days when the sun does not shine quite so brightly. If it brings a smile, a moment of enlightenment, a feeling of gratitude, or a little comfort to the reader’s life The Gratitude Journal has served a double purpose. For that I am grateful.
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