I am in awe of this world we live in.
Yet, there are several days when I forget about it. I forget about the beauty around me when I am caught up in my daily humdrum. I forget about the amazing things in my life when I am caught up with my sorrows and worries. I forget the love of friends and family when I am drowning in politics and paperwork at work. I forget the power of a smile or a kind word when I am consumed by anger about injustices.
Just like most of us.
It is easy to get caught up in the sorrows, the anger, the hatred, the worries, the frustrations and to complain and whinge about everything around us. It is even easier to grumble about what we don’t have…what we want…what we think we are entitled to and deserve. And consequently, it becomes easy to forget what we do have.
Gratitude hits me at times taking me by surprise. Like on a drive back home after a frustrating day. As I drive across Tom Ugly’s bridge towards home, I am forever grateful to be living in a beautiful part of this world. At other times, it takes more effort. Like to be thankful to have beautiful places close to home to unwind. And even just being thankful for good health. I know I am forever grateful for the family I have. And the lovely friends I have made. I can dig deeper and be thankful for the opportunities I have had. That I have been fortunate in life. And I am grateful for having a job that I love that also helps me pay my mortgage.
There is so much to be thankful for in life. We just have to make an effort to realise it. And to remember to not take it all for granted. Personally, I haven’t gotten into the whole gratitude journal thing. But I often wonder about it. Will it make me more conscious about being thankful? Or should I just let the moments of thankfulness come as they do every few days?
I am not sure yet.
But I do know being thankful about what I have makes me content with living my life.
How about you? Do you keep a gratitude journal? Or do you just prefer to be thankful in other ways?
Do share!!!
***This post is part of the April A to Z Challenge and the Ultimate Blog Challenge. You can read my other posts here***
Until next time,
Cheers!!!
Chrys Fey
23 April 2014 at 8:03 amSometimes we do forget to be thankful. We forgot about the good around us, the beauty. Every day, before bed, we should always try to push aside our stress and whatever hardship we might be facing to give thanks for the things we are grateful for. 🙂
I kept a gratitude journal for about 2 weeks as a part of a challenge, but I should definitely pick it up again.
Chrys Fey
23 April 2014 at 8:03 amSometimes we do forget to be thankful. We forgot about the good around us, the beauty. Every day, before bed, we should always try to push aside our stress and whatever hardship we might be facing to give thanks for the things we are grateful for. 🙂
I kept a gratitude journal for about 2 weeks as a part of a challenge, but I should definitely pick it up again.
usha menon
23 April 2014 at 12:30 pmPsych, this is a very inspiring post. How correct! We must offer thanks to everyone who stands beside us with love and a helping hand.
usha menon recently posted…Teej Festival
usha menon
23 April 2014 at 12:30 pmPsych, this is a very inspiring post. How correct! We must offer thanks to everyone who stands beside us with love and a helping hand.
usha menon recently posted…Teej Festival
Beloo Mehra
23 April 2014 at 2:02 pmYes, it is so easy to forget to be thankful for all that we have. Sometimes a sincere feeling of gratitude toward everything and everyone is all the goodness we need in a day. Or even a lifetime! Thanks PB for this inspiring post today. And no, I am not into this gratitude journaling thing. I am not sure I will ever be. It seems so artificial, for some reason. I would rather sit by myself and go in and allow my gratitude to come from that deep place within rather than my mind pouring out on some paper. But that’s just me.
Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal
Beloo Mehra recently posted…T is for Teacher, the Seeker
Beloo Mehra
23 April 2014 at 2:02 pmYes, it is so easy to forget to be thankful for all that we have. Sometimes a sincere feeling of gratitude toward everything and everyone is all the goodness we need in a day. Or even a lifetime! Thanks PB for this inspiring post today. And no, I am not into this gratitude journaling thing. I am not sure I will ever be. It seems so artificial, for some reason. I would rather sit by myself and go in and allow my gratitude to come from that deep place within rather than my mind pouring out on some paper. But that’s just me.
Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal
Beloo Mehra recently posted…T is for Teacher, the Seeker
Shailaja V
23 April 2014 at 4:05 pmYou know this is an interesting point- to be consciously thankful everyday or to be thankful when the feeling hits you. I think both ways have their merits 🙂
In one, you start consciously looking for things to be thankful and that renews your faith in them and enhances your gratitude. In the other, you feel overwhelmed by the surge of gratitude and bask in that feeling. I love the links you mentioned in the post. Truly gratifying 🙂
Shailaja V recently posted…Toss it off
Shailaja V
23 April 2014 at 4:05 pmYou know this is an interesting point- to be consciously thankful everyday or to be thankful when the feeling hits you. I think both ways have their merits 🙂
In one, you start consciously looking for things to be thankful and that renews your faith in them and enhances your gratitude. In the other, you feel overwhelmed by the surge of gratitude and bask in that feeling. I love the links you mentioned in the post. Truly gratifying 🙂
Shailaja V recently posted…Toss it off
nabanita
23 April 2014 at 6:00 pmInspiring and so true…we often forget to be thankful for what we have and run behind what we don’t
nabanita recently posted…T is for Tired
nabanita
23 April 2014 at 6:00 pmInspiring and so true…we often forget to be thankful for what we have and run behind what we don’t
nabanita recently posted…T is for Tired
simple girl
23 April 2014 at 6:07 pmFor me the feeling of gratitude is mostly a sudden realisation and I am overwhelmed with emotions.. Great post PB ..
simple girl recently posted…AtoZchallenge -T for tentul…
simple girl
23 April 2014 at 6:07 pmFor me the feeling of gratitude is mostly a sudden realisation and I am overwhelmed with emotions.. Great post PB ..
simple girl recently posted…AtoZchallenge -T for tentul…
Suzy
23 April 2014 at 6:44 pmLiving in gratitude is living in happiness. Such a beautiful picture and lovely words. I used to do a Thankful Thursday post but haven’t done it for a while – perhaps I need to restart that. But at the end of the day I just give thanks to the Lord for everything.
Suzy recently posted…Life’s Jigsaw – Temple
Suzy
23 April 2014 at 6:44 pmLiving in gratitude is living in happiness. Such a beautiful picture and lovely words. I used to do a Thankful Thursday post but haven’t done it for a while – perhaps I need to restart that. But at the end of the day I just give thanks to the Lord for everything.
Suzy recently posted…Life’s Jigsaw – Temple
afshan
23 April 2014 at 10:30 pmI dont keep a gratitude journal but ya it is important to be thankful to what ever we have or got and whoever changed our life for good
Good reminder post 🙂
dropping by from A to Z – http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.in/
afshan
23 April 2014 at 10:30 pmI dont keep a gratitude journal but ya it is important to be thankful to what ever we have or got and whoever changed our life for good
Good reminder post 🙂
dropping by from A to Z – http://afshan-shaik.blogspot.in/
Laurel Regan
24 April 2014 at 7:06 amI don’t keep a formal gratitude journal, but host a Gratitude Linkup on my blog each Sunday – so throughout the week when I feel gratitude for something, I remember it and add it to my list on the linkup. It’s a great way to stay focused on gratitude.
Laurel Regan recently posted…Blogging from A to Z Challenge – T is for…
Laurel Regan
24 April 2014 at 7:06 amI don’t keep a formal gratitude journal, but host a Gratitude Linkup on my blog each Sunday – so throughout the week when I feel gratitude for something, I remember it and add it to my list on the linkup. It’s a great way to stay focused on gratitude.
Laurel Regan recently posted…Blogging from A to Z Challenge – T is for…
S(t)ri
24 April 2014 at 9:52 pmvery true… we generally forget how blessed we are and we are not thankful in many cases … 🙂 Gratitude is the greatest gift one can give!
~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
S(t)ri recently posted…Up In The Air – AToZ Challenge 2014 – Day21
S(t)ri
24 April 2014 at 9:52 pmvery true… we generally forget how blessed we are and we are not thankful in many cases … 🙂 Gratitude is the greatest gift one can give!
~S(t)ri
Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
Smile, it makes (y)our day!
S(t)ri recently posted…Up In The Air – AToZ Challenge 2014 – Day21
vishalbheeroo
25 April 2014 at 1:24 amSame feelings echoed here. The way life is and set back at times make us forget the beauty of living.
Cheerz
vishalbheeroo recently posted…U for University/University Road Pune
vishalbheeroo
25 April 2014 at 1:24 amSame feelings echoed here. The way life is and set back at times make us forget the beauty of living.
Cheerz
vishalbheeroo recently posted…U for University/University Road Pune
Aditi
25 April 2014 at 7:03 pmYes PB it will. I have for a few months now kept a gratitude journal, a conscious effort daily to give thanks! Trust me you feel so good in practicing this and it is a rollover effect. Love! 🙂
Aditi recently posted…The Tangerine Dream
Aditi
25 April 2014 at 7:03 pmYes PB it will. I have for a few months now kept a gratitude journal, a conscious effort daily to give thanks! Trust me you feel so good in practicing this and it is a rollover effect. Love! 🙂
Aditi recently posted…The Tangerine Dream
carol graham
26 April 2014 at 2:52 pmSome days I am absolutely overwhelmed when I think about everything I am so thankful for — isn’t it wonderful? Thank you for a lovely post.
Carol @ Battered Hope
carol graham recently posted…Dogs – W is for Willow – Rescue Dog
carol graham
26 April 2014 at 2:52 pmSome days I am absolutely overwhelmed when I think about everything I am so thankful for — isn’t it wonderful? Thank you for a lovely post.
Carol @ Battered Hope
carol graham recently posted…Dogs – W is for Willow – Rescue Dog