A Season of Gratitude

November is a time for enjoying family, partaking of wonderful, bounteous meals, and of course, being grateful. It has once been said that "Gratitude is the heart's memory." One way to extend, and even grow, your feelings of gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal.

Keeping a gratitude journal can improve sleep, reduce anxiety and depression, and even help fight off viral infections.

In one study, researchers from the University of California, Davis, asked participants to write down a few sentences each week. Those who focused on things they were grateful for, as opposed to life's hassles or neutral events, reported fewer illnesses, exercised more and felt more optimistic about their lives.

Beginning a Journal 

To begin, get a blank journal to write in. Then keep a mental tally of things you are grateful for throughout the day. Before you go to sleep, write down some thing you are grateful for. This practice doesn't have to take a lot of time - just once sentence will do. But you will notice, that there are times, when you cannot stop writing about the things you feel most grateful for.

To take your journal a step further, consider including a photo, clipping, quote or verse with your note for the day. 

The joy of a gratitude journal comes down the road, when you are having a rough day. Being able to reflect back on the good things, those moments that touched you enough to take note of them, can carry you through even the hardest of days. So begin today!

Complete this Sentence ....

"Today, I am grateful for ..." Let your journey begin!