Quote from The Gratitude Habit Journal

This quote is from The Gratitude Habit Journal and Workbook.

"Give thanks for those who have inspired
your courage, strength, and resolve."

It is one of the many prompts, statements, activities and exercises found throughout the book.

Grateful for Peaceful Moments

There are precious moments when the inner calm takes over and all troubles and struggles seem to dissipate...and PEACE reigns. What a gift!!

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season filled with love, joy, and opportunities to create special memories.

Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary-2

After writing last Saturday's post, Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary, I really wanted to create a visual poster with that sentiment. So here it is!!

I've found it quite a zing to pause for a moment during simple everyday tasks and raise the experience to another level, through heartfelt gratitude. It seems quite remarkable when something so ordinary can become something closer to the highlight of my day. All it takes is a new appreciation for the ability and opportunity to complete that task.

If you haven't already read it, check out Saturday's post.

Choose Gratitude

In Any Given Moment, embrace love, choose gratitude, release fear...in the NOW.

No matter what you are experiencing in life, you can choose gratitude and improve your day. In doing so you will find it easier to release fear, stress, and anxiety.

Click Here for more Benefits of Gratitude.

Turn Ordinary Into Extraordinary

There are many actions we take throughout the day that become second nature. They are so much a part of our day that they become automatic...brushing our teeth, putting on shoes, walking up the stairs, or drinking a glass of water. Actions such as these are done without almost any thought...YET...if it became physically difficult to perform these tasks, for any reason, our automatic actions would suddenly take thought and possibly even struggle.

It is so easy to take things for granted when it involves something we do, or see, or experience every day. The world around us becomes a familiar background as we drive the kids to school or journey to work, walk the dog or pick up groceries. Our corner of the world grows smaller as we wrap ourselves in tasks and thoughts. In other words, we begin to take the bigger picture for granted and miss out on the things that make life more beautiful, easier, elegant, and even interesting.

How often do your chores become something to just finish up and get done? Last week, as I was making dinner, I was so very thankful that I could physically accomplish this task. And suddenly something I needed to do for my family went from "Oh well" to "Oh Wow!"  I even found the dreaded job of cleaning up the kitchen, after dinner, a remarkable accomplishment. I shifted my thinking from ordinary to extraordinary about something that takes place every day.

What are you taking for granted? Find things to be grateful for today that you wouldn't normally think of being thankful for.

(Check out Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary-2 where I added an image on the subject and a short post.)

So Much To Be Grateful For

There are many, many things we can find each day to be grateful for in life...some small and others big. It's easy for us to appreciate the people we love and those who are special to us. It's customary to be thankful for the job promotion, raise, and achieving a major goal. Then there is everything else that we come in contact with or experience in a day.

Our days are filled with:

• Modern miracles (remote controls, cell phones, computers, Ipads, etc.). 
• The Basics (shelter, food, water, showers, ability to breathe, and more)
• Comforts (beds, pillows, blankets, couches, chairs, cup of coffee, etc)
• Human interactions (time with friends and family, good conversations, laughter, smiles, opportunities to share, to love, to care)
• Beauty (landscapes, natural world, artwork, shadows, music, smiles)
• Creativity (thinking, music, art, poetry, cooking, dance, and so much more)
• Modern conveniences (cars, running water, refrigerators, washer/dryers, toothpaste, etc.)
• Entertainment (TV, movies, books, games, concerts, stereos and music players)
• Sports and athletic activities
• The Physical Body 
• Life itself...
• And so much more!!! 

I'll stop here because I could go on and on and on...And you get the idea.

There's so much to appreciate.

Everyday WOW!

We can all agree that not everyday is a great day. We have good days, we have difficult days...and some days seem to be nondescript, but in every given day you can find the WOWs.

Just the fact that the sun rises each day and sheds light on the world around you, is a source of wonder. Waking up to another day of life is remarkable when you really look at it. The bodies we inhabit are quite extraordinary in their design and makeup. The fact that there is life on this planet in all of it's amazingly diverse forms is a huge WOW. Our ability to reason, walk, talk, speak , and create, is absolutely incredible. We have spectacular vistas on every continent that cause people to catch their breath in awe.

These are some of the many reasons that I can find the WOW in everyday, whenever I choose to look for it. I can shift my view of the world from my small little piece of it, to look at the big picture and fill my perspective with awe and wonder. Life is so much bigger than the day to day happenings of any one individual.

 Look broad and be WOWed!!!

Make Your Own Gratitude Gifts

 Today is black Monday, the day that people supposedly shop online to conveniently check off as many people on their gift list as possible. Well, I thought I would take gift-giving in a different direction today with an "un-black monday" sort of post. Would you like to make some of your holiday gifts this year? There's still time.

It's possible you won't find all your gifts online this year, and in case you'd like to avoid the crowds in malls and stores, here are some gratitude wrap and thankful box ideas you can create as gifts. (I will be looking for other DIY gift ideas for a future post.)

Gratitude Wraps -using fabric to sew a wrap with pockets to hold everything you need for writing letters of gratitude...paper/cards, envelops, stamps, and pens.

• At the Purple Petunia blog, napkins bought at an estate sale were used to create a simple gratitude wrap.
• Amanda at Soule Mama used multiple layers of fabric and batting, with separately sewn pockets to create this gratitude wrap. This wrap is a more involved sewing project. Soule Mama also has another wrap sewn with a simpler design. 

    

From Soule Mama

From Soule Mama

A Thankful Box - a personally decorated box given with heartfelt expressions of appreciation from you OR filled with cards for the recipient to record their gratitude throughout the year.

• A decorated box with scrapbooking elements and printed " I am Thankful for..." cards.
• A gratitude box with pre-made products. This box may give you ideas on decorating a DIY gratitude box.
• Here's an idea you can transform into a gratitude box gift. Instead of a matchbox, use an empty note card box. Create a cover that reads Gratitude Box, Why I appreciate you, or Thankful for you. On the folded card stock you can either leave it blank so the person you are giving it to can use it to write their appreciations OR fill it yourself with all the things that you appreciate most about that individual.
• A box covered with decorated paper and then filled with treats to say thank you. Of course, instead of treats, you could place a letter of appreciation in the box, a small stuffed animal, or a set of homemade "I am thankful for..." cards.
• More ideas on Making a Gratitude Box.

From My Scraps

From Paper Cuts by Lisa

 


 

A Gratitude Tree in December

From U-Create Crafts

December is a great month for a gratitude tree. Start one at the beginning of the month, and it will be loaded with gratitude by the time you celebrate New Year's. Use it to reflect on the many people, places, and things you've appreciated throughout this past year. The gratitude tree is an ideal family activity and one to share with friends, roommates, or to create on your own.

Throughout November, I posted one or more gratitude crafts and activities each day on Facebook and at Pinterest. Of those many projects, there were twelve gratitude tree ideas included. Although you may notice a number of similarities between these tree designs, each one has its own unique way of envisioning a gratitude tree. So check them out and consider creating one now or in the future.


Here are links to each of the gratitude tree projects:

1. A large wall cutout display with brown paper tree and construction paper leaves.
2. A fabric cutout tree on canvas. (image above)
3. A paper bag tree...perfect for children.
4. A tree branch with hanging tags. (image below on left)
5. Decorative display of colorful twigs and faux craft store leaves.
6. A framed tree cutout with construction paper leaves.
7. A framed 8x10 printable tree with printable leaves.
8. A 3x4 foot paper tree cutout on wall with construction paper leaves.
9. A branch, a pot, and some construction paper leaves.
10. A branch and mod podged leaves.
11. Another branch with hanging construction paper leaves. (The tree of thanks seen below) 
12. A 6 foot tall tree made of crumbled paper bag pieces against a sliding glass door.

and then one more idea: The thankful branch with hanging tags.

From Show Me Crafts

From: In Lieu of Preschool

If December is too hectic a month for a gratitude tree, consider creating one in January. It's a great way to start the year. And of course, any month can become a gratitude month.

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Or should I say Happy Gratitude Day? Of course, we can look at it as everyday is a day of gratitude and a chance to be grateful for the gifts that fill our lives.

How wonderful to have a day set aside for celebrating thankfulness and to share our gratitude with others. Imagine what it would be like to have that same focus for 365 days a year. Many do.

Just as people choose to make resolutions on New Year's Day, you can start a new tradition on Thanksgiving Day. Make a commitment to gratitude with a plan for keeping gratitude present in your life throughout the year. What can you do to foster gratitude in your daily life?

If you need some reasons for developing a gratitude practice, check out the Benefits of Gratitude.

Announcing The Gratitude Habit Store

A couple of weeks ago I began to play with a method of setting up a store through Amazon.com. After some initial difficulties, I managed to figure out how to create a Gratitude Store.

At the Gratitude Store you'll find an assortment of gratitude books, blank journals for writing appreciations and gratitude lists, children's gratitude books, and The Gratitude Habit: A 365 day Journal and Workbook. I will be adding to it from time to time.

You'll notice I've added a link to the store on the right hand side of this blog.

So, I invite you to check out Gratitude Store. 

And... I've also created a new Shared Easel Store for art and creativity books for children and adults, and art supplies.

The Wow As Gratitude

When I was in 9th grade I had a wonderful English teacher who introduced the concept of being WOWed by life. I seem to remember her encouraging us to be open to the opportunities of experiencing the WOW. All these years later, I still remember her passion for getting us to open our eyes to the wonders of the world around us. I'm not sure about the rest of the class, but one student (that's me) clearly heard her and took her words to heart.

For the past couple of years I have thought about the WOW experience as a form of gratitude but I just wasn't able to put it into words. Then recently, I found myself writing an explanation of how the two were related as if I were explaining it to myself. That explanation has become one of the articles in the most recent issue of The Shared Easel Newsletter. To read the article, visit: http://sharedeaselnews.blogspot.com/2013/11/wow-form-of-gratitude.html.

I definitely learned that high school lesson. I am always being WOWed by life...and loving it!

Gratitude Crafts and Activities on Pinterest

Since the beginning of November, I've been posting gratitude crafts and activities on The Gratitude Habit page on Facebook , every day. In addition, I have added a number of other creative gratitude projects, along with each of these, onto a Pinterest board. I will continue to add more thankful activities in the coming months as I come across new ideas. The Pinterest page makes it easy to keep all the projects together in one place.

Keep in mind that many of these are great gratitude projects to consider for any time of year you would like to focus on expressing your thankfulness.

As of today there are over 60 Gratitude Crafts and Activities already posted on the page.

Gratitude: For A Quick Pick Me Up

 

Need a Quick Pick Me Up? Make a Gratitude List. 

The fact is that some days are harder to face than others. You've probably had days like that, when even the simplest of things becomes difficult to deal with. And I would think that most people have experienced a day when they've wished they had stayed in bed all day OR times when it's hard to summon up your usual cheery self. 

Try a little gratitude intervention to turn your day around.

Here’s a quick pick me up. In just a few minutes you can  help shift your mood and get yourself back on track. Take a short intermission in your day to write a list of 15 to 20 things you are grateful for in your life.

You still may wish you had stayed in bed all day but the list is likely to give you more inner resolve to face the rest of your day. 

 

One Year Anniversary of The Gratitude Habit

Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of The Gratitude Habit

Wow...it's been quite a year. One that I am very thankful for. This journey into gratitude has been a wonderful surprise. And as I mark this one year anniversary of the publication date for The Gratitude Habit, I am finding myself reflecting on the steps that brought me to this point. I am totally wowed. Who would have thought that I would have ended up spending my days writing, reading, experiencing, and thinking about gratitude. Not me. The past couple of years have been a delightful surprise.

Another big surprise is knowing that I haven't come close to exhausting the subject yet. I am amazed at how excited I am about the plans I have for future gratitude projects. I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this seemingly alternate path...yet maybe all the roads I've traveled have been leading to this path all along.

For more on the subject, visit: the latest issue of the Shared Easel Newsletter 

The Gratitude Habit: Gift Ideas

Only One Day to the Book's One Year Anniversary!!

The Gratitude Habit is an ideal gift for family and friends. It can be given on it's own as the primary gift or as part of a gift basket. Here are some gift giving ideas that include The Gratitude Habit Journal/Workbook.

Gift Idea #1: 
        Includes...

• The Gratitude Habit: a 365 Day Journal and Workbook
• Set of Pens
• Assorted Teas 
• Organic India Chai Masala Tea

 
Gift Idea #2: 
        Includes...

• The Gratitude Habit: a 365 Day Journal and Workbook
• Gift Card for Amazon.com

Gift Idea #3: 
        Includes...

• The Gratitude Habit: a 365 Day Journal and Workbook
• Micro Sherpa Throw (as pictured) Or Cozy Fleece Blanket Throw
• Thermal Ceramic Coffee Mug
• Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
• Blank Strathmore Blank Cards for Making Handmade Thank You's
• 4" x 6" Photo Album

 Here are some additional gift basket ideas:
 

• Candles
• Classic Thank You Cards or Rustic Thank You Cards
• Ferrero Chocolates

The book is an ideal gift to have on hand for last minute gifts or to bring as a hostess gift for Thanksgiving or any of the social events of the upcoming holiday season. Order now to be prepared.

For more gratitude gifts, visit The Gratitude Habit Store.

The Gratitude Habit: Image Play

Four Days to the Book's One Year Anniversary!!

Almost two years ago, after becoming immersed in gratitude, I spent an afternoon playing with the camera and some scrabble pieces. I had fun placing the letters on several of my paintings, spelling out thankful, grateful, thanks, and gratitude. That was during a period of time when I became involved in every gratitude activity I could think of. This was part of the process of filling my world with gratitude from morning till night.

This image is one of the photos I took during that afternoon and I would love to create another photo shoot to play with words and images once again. I will post something if and when I do.
 

Appreciating True Friendship

A lot has been written on the subject of friendship...and I guess I will be one more to write about it.

As we travel the paths of life, there are precious points at which we come across a fellow traveler who fits into our lives as if they were meant to be there all along. They seem to have been perfectly placed  and come into focus at just the right time. And either in that moment or sometime in the future, looking back, it feels as if they were placed here just for us, as our special gift. How wonderful to find someone who can walk by our side and share the journey.

I have been gifted with some great friends and I am so thankful to have them in my life. They are a safe haven when the waters get choppy and a sounding board when I need to talk something out or hear another perspective. They can provide me with unconditional support, not to mention love. They fill the world with reasons to smile and reasons for gratitude.

What a wonderful gift to have those special someones who really see us and "get us," often right from the very start. The world is a better place because they have touched our lives.

The Gratitude Habit: Great Hostess Gift

Six Days to the Book's One Year Anniversary!!

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, consider bringing a copy of The Gratitude Habit...a 365 Day Journal and Workbook as a hostess gift. What a wonderful way to say thank you to your holiday hosts.

There's still enough time to order the book from Amazon.com for Thanksgiving. At under $10, it's an ideal price to order several and have them on hand when you need a thoughtful last minute gift this holiday season. This time of year is often filled with invitations to parties and dinners, and opportunities for socializing.

So order now to be prepared.

The Gratitude Habit: 100 Gratitudes

Seven Days to the Book's One Year Anniversary!!

The Gratitude Habit: A 365 Day Journal and Workbook has two opportunities to generate an extensive gratitude list. There's one at the beginning of the book and one at the end. The 100 Gratitudes list offers a challenge to those who would like to either complete it or start it before beginning the journal. The list becomes an easy reference and a reminder of the many gifts that fill your life. Time spent reviewing the list can be quite helpful when a pick-me-up is needed.

For those who feel that 100 Gratitudes is too long a list to start with, consider 50, or 30, or maybe 20 at first. Then go back and add to it in the future if you prefer.

This three page list was the first portion of the book I designed. It seemed important to begin with an opportunity to list as many appreciations as possible before even starting the journal pages. The 100 Gratitudes helps to create a foundation on which to start making changes in your life. It also helps in developing a relationship with gratitude before beginning to complete daily journal entries, and it makes it easier to begin focusing on the good things in life.

So, the initial list becomes a point of reference for assessing your relationship with gratitude. The second list, at the end of the book, is included for those who would like to create another list once they have completed the journal. It may also illuminate any changes in your experience with gratitude since starting the book.

Personally, I like to list 100 Gratitudes every couple of months or so. It feels good and reinforces positive thinking.

The Gratitude Habit: My Favorite Quote

Eight Days to the Book's One Year Anniversary

Today I thought I'd share my favorite "quote" from The Gratitude Habit: 365 Day Journal and Workbook. It's funny to call it a quote since it's from my book.

"Happiness is not based on the occasional
grand things that happen in your life.
It comes from acknowledging the
steady flow of moments to appreciate."

I originally posted this statement on Facebook back in April. It was the second excerpt from the journal I shared and it was new for me. I chose a photo I had taken with the reflection of sunlight on the rippling waters of the river. Then I played with the font style, color, and size. I've created many more images since, with words and photos. I am still learning and growing as I develop a style of combining the two.

Prior to this year, I had a desire to play with text in paintings or photos. I'm so glad I've taken the opportunity to do so this year and it's just the beginning. I'm getting more comfortable with the overall look and development of a "text image." It feels like a new medium to me. I must admit that I wonder about introducing letters and words into my paintings. Hmmm...

The Gratitude Habit: What's included

Nine Days to the Book's One Year Anniversary 

The Gratitude Habit is a 365 day gratitude journal with workbook elements. The exercises, activities, and prompts help to make gratitude a habit in your life.

Here's what's included in the journal: 

• 365 gratitude journal entries.
• Workbook exercises.
• 100 Gratitudes list - pages for listing 100 people, places and thing you most appreciate.
• Gratitude prompts, thoughts, and reminders.
• Activities and techniques you can use to help deepen a gratitude habit.
• Writing activities and exercises.
• Blank writing pages.
• List of ideas for keeping gratitude active in your life after completing this journal.
• Gratitude Action Plan - space to establish a plan for how to keep gratitude present in your life.
• Quotes and Notes - pages to record any quotes you come across that you would like to reference.

The Gratitude Habit can be purchased at Amazon for yourself and for loved ones. It has become a popular gift for the holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.

The Gratitude Habit: a bit of history

Ten Days To The Book's One Year Anniversary!!

With The Gratitude Habit Journal and Workbook about to celebrate it's one year anniversary, of the date it was published, I find myself reflecting on the journey of the past few years.

This morning I happened to remember the first time I had the idea of creating a gratitude journal. A few years ago, while I was walking Pickles, our dog, I got a real zing as I thought about developing a "Count Your Blessings" journal. The idea seemed to come into focus in a crystal clear way and I even got a glimpse of what it might look like, inside and out. So, immediately after returning to the house, I wrote down all my thoughts and ideas, adding to the page throughout the week. I did not look at that page again for about two years.

At the beginning of 2012, I began to make gratitude my focus, filling my days with reading, writing and exploring the subject in depth. The original goal was to develop a relationship with gratitude for another project I had in mind. Somewhere along the way, I ended up super charged by the idea of developing a gratitude journal with a workbook component. It was only after I began work on the book that I remembered my notes from two years earlier. How great to start a project in which "my past self" had left some building blocks on which to begin this new journey.

To purchase the book at Amazon, Click Here.

A Month Filled with Gratitude Crafts and Activities

It's November!!! Thanksgiving Day is just a few weeks away.  With that in mind, November is going to be Gratitude Crafts and Activities Month at The Gratitude Habit. The goal is to share a creative gratitude project everyday throughout the month. I will be posting them on my Pinterest page for gratitude related activities and at the The Gratitude Habit page at Facebook. These activities are great for individuals, couples, friends, or families. Many of them are perfect for adults as well as small children.

Although the majority of the creative ideas will seem to be Thanksgiving oriented, many of them can be done at any time during the year to help develop an active relationship with gratitude.

I will write more about it here during the month and plan to continue adding project links into December as well. If you enjoy giving homemade gifts, some of the craft ideas I am saving for December, are projects that can be used for making holiday gifts.

Here are the links:
Pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/wendyarts/gratitude-crafts-and-activities/
Gratitude Habit at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gratitude-Habit/375304945893757

Wishing you a wonderful November, filled with gratitude and creativity. And if you happen to spend time with any of the activities posted during the month, please leave a comment to let us know how it went. Thanks.

A Gratitude Journal for Relationships

Here’s a simple and fun way to put some time and attention into your relationship…

We all seem to have way too many priorities, activities, and tasks these days. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of space and time for many couples who are trying to meet their individual commitments. So, the relationship takes a back seat to all the other priorities tugging at their sleeves. A gratitude journal for couples is a simple and fun way to focus on each other and put some energy into your relationship.

My husband and I are doing a 30 day relationship gratitude journal. We each have a small pad we use to list three things we appreciate about one another, each day. It’s been fun and here’s why:

• We get to look for things to appreciate all day long. Not that we didn’t appreciate one another beforehand but now it’s as if we are shinning a spotlight on our appreciation.
• We get to share a moment of realization when we catch each other appreciating us for something. And, every once and awhile my husband will say, with a big grin, ”that’s going on the list!”
• I do believe that I am smiling more. 
• I am feeling love for my hubby more often throughout the day. 
• I think I like him even more than before and I LOVE the feeling of appreciating him and the things he does.

All of this and it's only taking us a couple of minutes a day.

When married couples have lived with one another for a number of years, it becomes easy to take some of what they do for granted. We may begin to overlook the little things we originally found charming or delightful and those things just become part of everyday life together.  A couple’s gratitude journal is a wonderful way to experience more appreciation for one another and to add a spark to the relationship. Whether you keep a journal on your own or the two of you go through the process together, there are benefits for both you and the relationship.

Instead of using separate journals you might prefer to share one journal and write on opposite pages. That way when you are writing your appreciations you get to see how much you are appreciated.

Any relationship can be improved with gratitude. This type of gratitude journal can also be helpful for...siblings, mothers and daughters, business partners, etc.

We are almost at the end of our 30 day journal and I know I will want to continue. Try this for yourself, for thirty days, and see how it benefits your relationship.

I Am Grateful: Past, Present, and Future

There are so many things to be grateful for in my past, my present, and the future.

The Past: When I look at the past, I can choose what to focus on. I can choose what defines me. I may select painful memories and give them life in the present rather than letting them go. I may choose to focus on the many blessings of my past, and be thankful for them. Whether I deem any point in my history to be good or bad, a blessing or a curse, a positive or a negative, everyone of those moments have helped shaped me and brought me to where I am today. So, I have much to be thankful for in my past.

The Present: As I look around me, to the many gifts of my present day life, I have much to be thankful for. I have a family I love, a home that supplies shelter, redwood trees outside, a dog to cuddle with, creative outlets, a laptop computer, a washer and dryer, running water, food to eat, joy in my heart, and so much more. Are there difficulties? Yes. Do they negate all the positives? No. I have many reasons to smile throughout the day and I take the opportunity to do so. I am so very thankful for all that I have and the wonderfully gifted moments throughout any given day.

The Future: When I think of the future I get an inner flutter of excitement about the unfolding future and the possibilities of openings, surprises, and wonderful delights ahead. This is not to say I don't ever worry...I do. But there is so much to be thankful for in the future. I like to give thanks for all the gifts in store for me, for the possibilities, and benefits. If I am hoping for something in the future, I give thanks for it manifesting in my life, as if it has already happened or it's on the way.

Giving thanks for the past, present, and future doesn't deny the difficulties of life. The question is...Why deny all the gifts of life, and all there is to be thankful for, by allowing the painful moments to take center stage?

What are you grateful for today?

Ask, Receive, Thanks

It seems like a simple three step process. Ask for what you want to have in your life, then make sure to be open to receive what you have asked for, and finally express gratitude for what you have received. Yep, it may be a simple process but how often do we forget to ask the universe for what we want?

Do we fail to ask because we don't know what we want or are we afraid we don't deserve it? Maybe we haven't stopped to think about what we would love to create in our lives or don't believe it's possible?  Today I am encouraging you to ask and be willing to receive.

Years ago, I read something in a book about asking for the essence of what you want rather than what you think you want. At the time, I really wanted to be able to move to a small house in a location I had picked out and loved. After spending time determining the true essence of what I was looking for, it was quite clear to me that, among other things, I really wanted some property to be able to plant a garden. So I asked for it. Within a couple of days, my landlord said that she was not going to be able to use her entire garden that year and if I wanted to use half her garden I was invited to do so. Wow!! I planted a fabulous garden and I was filled with gratitude and love for being given this opportunity.

Ever since then, I try to remember to determine the essence of what I would like to create in my life. In other words, rather than asking for a new job so you can spend more time with the family, ask for the ability to spend more time with the family. You never know how it will unfold in your life.

When asking for what they want, many people would choose to ask for more money. How much money? What is the money for? Instead of a vague request for money, try asking for the essence of what you would like to do with that money. Are you wishing for the ability to travel or do you need or want a new car? Would you like it to be easier to buy groceries to feed your family, pay your bills, or do you want to feel more financially secure?

And don't forget to give thanks when you get what you've requested. Gratitude for what we have really does attract more to be grateful for.

Welcome to The Gratitude Habit Journal Blog

I am super psyched to share this new blog with you. It is dedicated to GRATITUDE as it's primary focus. Here you will find articles, images, links and all things related to making gratitude a habit.

Up until now, all of my gratitude posts have been included on the Shared Easel blog and on The Gratitude Habit Facebook page. My goal is to continue using the Shared Easel for my artwork and other creative projects.

The first few posts on this blog will be coming directly from the Shared Easel blog and over to the right you can find links to some of the most popular gratitude posts as well.

So, welcome to the new home of The Gratitude Habit Journal.