Gratitude.

A few years back I read an article that discussed the importance of being grateful. Like they say, 'Gratitude Changes Everything' and I have started to see that whoever 'they' are, they're right. I don't remember all the details, but I remember it talked about starting a 'Gratitude Journal', and I thought this idea was fantastic. What better way to keep myself grounded and appreciative than to write down the things that keep me that way. Well, life happened and I never got around to buying that journal but I didn't forget how great I thought it could be. Just recently I came across another article discussing this very same idea and now there's even a documentary about how a gratitude journal is one of the best ways to improve your happiness in life. Makes sense! 

Can you imagine when you're feeling down and out, thinking life just plain sucks and then whipping out your trusty little journal and..."I am grateful for my thoughtful husband who made the bed and ordered me to take a nap on a Sunday afternoon...I am grateful for sweet, loving Owen who kisses me on the cheek and tells me I'm the prettiest princess Mama in the world...I am grateful for my always helpful mother, who will check on my pup at a moment's notice and even wash the dishes before she heads home." Somehow I don't think my life would seem so sucky anymore, do you? Granted it's not going to solve all the problems of the world, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to give ourselves a little boost!

I think I'll finally get out there and find myself a gratitude journal to keep at my bedside. I can already picture winding down in bed before falling asleep and taking a quick minute to jot down a few things now and then. Eventually all those little things will add up and then after a while, life starts to look pretty amazing! Do you have a gratitude journal? Do you think you'd like one? I'm secretly excited to shop for one now! I've seen some cute pink notebooks or ones with fun prints, but I'm dreaming about a simple rustic style like this handmade leather bound journal I found on etsy! What do you think?