Family Gratitude Journal

We live in an age of consumption, where most people are in constant pursuit of more, better, different.  We are obsessed with the future and the next best thing.  My family gets caught up in consumption just like so many other families.  I am always trying to create moments where we can pause, get off of the conveyor belt of consumption and just pause to appreciate what we already have and the life we already enjoy.  And I am not just talking about consumption as it relates to buying stuff, I am also talking about consumption as it relates to achievement, scheduling, status.  It often seems like we live in a society that is obsessed with collecting achievements, appointments, titles, and commitments.  My daughters have even begun to notice this in their little worlds.  I am interested in slowing down, exploring and paying attention to the beauty around me and trying to remind myself that more isn't always better.  When we are so busy trying to orchestrate "the good life", we forget that we already have a GREAT life. 

I just wanted to create a moment every Sunday, where we, as a family, took a moment to pause and journal our gratitude for the week.  I thought about doing a daily gratitude entry but realistically, a daily effort might be a recipe for failure and for minimizing the significance...making the gratitude journal more of a chore.  I decided a weekly entry was doable for everyone and would be a nice way to close out an old week and begin a new week.  There is no pressure to write a book or to be a poet or to even be eloquent or profound.  It is just a moment that we take on Sunday evenings to be consciously grateful. 

We began the Gratitude journal in the month of November as November is the designated month of thankfulness and it is sadly, also the season of consumption, but like so many, I think it's a missed opportunity to only focus on gratefulness and thankfulness for one month or one day of the year.  I hope to raise the level of gratitude in myself and in my family year-round.  I believe gratitude is the key to happiness.  If I want to raise kids who are happy, I must first raise gratitude in my family...every month of the year. 

So far, my family has embraced the gratitude journal and we are grateful for things like: volleyball, bouncy balls, relaxing days with nothing to do, garage sales, the beach, family, shelter, dogs, health, beautiful weather, and chalkboard paint. 

As you can see, there is nothing profound about raising gratitude.  it's the little things that we are most grateful for... Tis the season to be grateful for what you already have and the great life you already live.  Peace, love, and gratitude!