Finding Joy in the Little Things

A few months ago, when I was still in my home ward, the Relief Society had an activity in which we all received a little journal, called the "gratitude journal." Each day we were to record 5 things we were grateful for that day, and we were never allowed to repeat anything from a previous day. The first couple days obvious things are written down, like family, but we quickly saw that we'd have to be creative. I haven't been perfect with it, but it sure has been fun to notice the little things that happen that I am grateful for. I think this is a great exercise for people that feel down--go buy a little notebook and start doing it too! I think you'll be surprised. You are encouraged to doodle, expound on the 5 things, put in clippings, quotes, etc in the book....just make it personal!

Here are some of the things I have put in my book:

• friends who care
• family
• my own computer
• access to a car
• my art talents
• getting my scripture reading done earlier
• sleeping in
• an excuse to "gussy up"
• home food from Mom
• finding old clothes that I love
• reminiscing about my childhood
• Christmas shopping with my brother (he convinced me to buy a toilet seat for a white elephant gift exchange...it was hilarious)
• ward choir
• Institute
• blogging
• rain
• good in-laws
• sushi
• playing with niece and nephews
• the magic a 3-year old brings at Christmastime
• dates (good ones!)
• good root beer
• cake batter ice cream
• safe traveling
• the snow
• Icee's
• conversations about art
• top ramen
• chocolate-covered pretzels
• a successful first week of school
• getting lost with Reba
• crepes
• compliments from boys
• talking in Spanish for 2 hours with a native speaker while doing service at DI
• roommate bonding
• dropping a bad class and signing up for a better one (best decision I made this semester)
• dropping a pants size!!
• acing a quiz even though I did the wrong reading
• getting my paper done and turned in
• not having a quiz in Classroom Management today!
• a blind date that actually wasn't awkward
• making myself a real dinner
• getting my temple recommend
• success in teaching Sunday School!
• watching "The Bachelor" with Maegan
• leftovers
• becoming friends with the guy at the front desk of the CCC
• getting my paper done despite bad anxiety
• warmer weather
• safety
• being able to eat after being sick for so long
• goal setting
• being able to kiss and hold hands again
• strawberry milk
• finishing the 5k and doing it with siblings
• receiving revelation
• string cheese
• awesome home teachers
• meeting my visiting teacher
• meeting a fun person in class, making the time go by so much faster
• fun April Fool's pranks
• my mission president and his wife
• healing
• board games
• a living prophet and apostles
• and countless names of people...chances are, if we've hung out, you've made it in my journal. :)

"In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy."