My son bought me a gratitude journal this past Christmas. I’ve always recommended the use of gratitude journals but, admittedly, thought that I didn’t need them since I trend toward realistic optimism as my normal modus operandi.
However, this was the year that started out…weird. From the beginning moments of 2024, I started asking people, “Is it just me, but does the world seem…strange…right now?” Global events, domestic events, personal events…everything seemed fraught and just, well, off. And then I lost my job. I’m grateful for an exercise that requires me to see at least three good things each day.
This particular gratitude journal has a Bible verse at the top of each page, followed by three blank lines. Three lines for three things per day for which to be grateful. Some days in the aftermath of my work transition, I was too emotionally tired to write. I gave myself grace to complete it on the following morning each time. When I woke up, those three lines awaited me—surely I could find three good things that had happened. Each time, I did!
I continue to be so thankful for the discipline of this journal. It’s a practice I now look forward to each night. I’m a little more on track now with writing down my thoughts before I go to bed. Two of my personal rules include: a.) Don’t write the same thing over and over again, and b.) Challenge yourself to think of different aspects of life to be thankful for. Some weeks I find that I’m very thankful for sleeping all night or having a great lunch, and I encourage myself to think of additional things. With a few exceptions, it really hasn’t been difficult at all.
Even in the midst of harrowing circumstances—and my year so far has involved the epitome of a midlife crisis of sorts—this gratitude journal is serving as a witness that goodness can exist alongside chaos. Previously, I was someone who always knew where I was going, why, and what the next steps would be. This could have been a very disorienting year indeed. Practices such as this one have helped to ground me and focus my attention on the good. The three lines force me to steer clear of any caveats, “buts,” or “howevers.” Just good things. I kind of wish I had more space to elaborate on all the good things, but I am also thankful for the simplicity of just keeping each item to one line.
Here are some entries from last week:
Breakfast and good conversation with Sara!
Hearing about what a good time Kian (my son) had on his trip to Branson, MO
An amazing first session with my spiritual director
Good support networks
A wonderful “guys” afternoon with Kian, his friend, and Berkeley (the student from China who lives with us this year)
A restful and productive morning—both
Strings music practice going beautifully
Cooking with my husband today—very fun
Dutch Blitz game!
Good time talking today with my dad—love our closeness
Re-reading each of these again, I am reminded of the strong, positive feelings that each evoked. Each was very, very good. In turns out, these weren’t tiny blips of my day. In the absence of full-time work, I was able to focus my attention on one thing at a time and actually implement what I’ve always believed: it’s important to be more mindful of the small things and take the time to deeply appreciate them. I probably experienced greater delight from each tiny pleasures than the big exciting events. They are like delicious morsels of my favorite foods (lamb kabobs, for example) that I can hold and pop in my mouth. Each time I read them, I can savor and then savor again.
I don’t know whether, years from now, I’ll recall the specific details behind these lines. Memory is fleeting, and my mind tends to operate in impressions rather than specifics. But maybe that is all that is needed. When the details go away, the positive feelings and just…thankfulness…can remain.
I am thankful that in the midst of a hard year, I had the tools and time to practice gratitude. I would not have chosen it this way, never in a million years. But I am thankful for the opportunity.
Who knows, maybe this will become an annual practice for me. What a great excuse to splurge on a journal for next year!
Stephanie Wilsey is wife, mom, academic, bibliophile, and musician living near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, she’s a lifelong Christ-follower who is trying to discern what that looks like in the 21st century. Her writing focuses on the intersect between psychology, personal growth, and spirituality. You can find her at www.christianmusingsfortoday.com, Substack (@stephaniewilsey), and Medium (@stephaniewilsey).
I have journaled since I was a child (although, at the beginning, it was called keeping a diary) and practiced gratitude probably as long. When my friend Jim got brain cancer 13 years ago, I started a litany of gratitude, adding something to it every day and sharing it with Jim every day. I find the practice of gratitude keeps me connected to God and helps me handle whatever comes my way.