Life, overall, has ups, downs and neutral moments. That swing – between good, neutral, and not-so-good times – is how lives unfold, for all beings, not just humans.
While you’re traveling along that swing of life, wouldn’t it be great to have a capable, dependable and helpful ally holding your hands, boosting and cherishing the fun times, and supporting & motivating you during tough times?
Gratitude is that ally. I can speak to it from plenty of my personal experiences, and scientific research (both of which I share in the book).
This book will motivate and guide you to indulge in a daily journaling practice – just around 10-15 minutes a day – with each week focusing on one specific aspect of life where you can find gratitude. The practice continues for twelve weeks, helping you get to a point where finding and cherishing gratitude becomes not just a practice, but a part of your ingrained personality.
We’ll get into the details – how and why to practice it, how gratitude and mindfulness boost each other, etc. – in the book, but for now, I want to share the weekly themes with you, along with one other creative aspect: Poetry.
Facts, others’ personal experiences and scientific data are all great motivators to get you out there on the trail of gratitude. But sometimes, you just need a sweet heartfelt hug to energize you enough to get on that journey.
And for me, poetry is one of those types of hugs. When I write poems to express or explore gratitude, it helps me connect with the gratitude-related emotions more intimately, building a stronger relationship with them. Or, when I read poems about gratitude, it inspires me to go searching for grateful moments.
Everyone has different creative outlets and preferences, but if poems (and the photos that go with them) appeal to you, here are twelve of them, each one based on the weekly theme. Check them out and soak them in.
Week 1: Gratitude in Simple Moments
Week 2: Gratitude for Basic Necessities
Week 3: Gratitude for Material Possessions
Week 4: Gratitude for Loved Ones
Week 5: Gratitude in Acts of Receiving
Week 6: Gratitude for Nourishing Experiences
Week 7: Gratitude for Health
Week 8: Gratitude in Annoying Situations
Week 9: Gratitude amidst Uncertainty
Week 10: Gratitude amidst Challenges
Week 11: Gratitude amidst Grief
Week 12: Gratitude in Acts of Giving
