Grateful for a Kind Life

Posted on by Miriam

Winter in Melbourne comes with its own magic.   I know I’ve posted a sunrise photo from my balcony before but that’s the thing with gratitude.  It’s appreciating, everyday, what’s around us  Whenever I see the sun rise I count my blessings.  It signals a new day of possibilities and beginnings, a new day of hope and I never want to take it for granted.

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I’ve been keeping a Gratitude Diary for the past five years.  This is my sixth year.  I remember the first year I wrote in it, it was more like a diary,  I tried to keep it positive but it wasn’t always easy.

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I had a tendency to ‘vent’ about what was worrying me. Writing it down was like a release.  But slowly it changed and I began to focus on the positives.  Even during the difficult times.  It’s easy to be thankful for the good things but I’ve realised that in all our setbacks we can grow and learn, even if we don’t realise it at the time.

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At the end of the day, every day, I would write what I was grateful for.  It became a ritual and it went everywhere with me, on holidays, overnight trips.  It’s became a Christmas gift to myself at the end of each year.

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It feels like a part of me, my best friend.  My newest journal lives beside my bed.  And it helps me to focus on the good and the kind and the blessings in my life, even when I’m at my lowest.  When I’m tired at the end of the day hopefully it means I’ve made a difference.

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What I’ve noticed mostly is that it’s the little things that really matter.  Not the grand scale things.  Being mindful and kind and the small blessings.  Smiles, simple greetings, opening a door, a helping hand, the kindnesses of every day… it all makes a difference.

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Here are some of the quotes that spoke to me from some of my past journals:

Each day comes bearing its own gifts.  Untie the ribbons.  Ruth Ann Schagacker

Acknowledging the good that you already in your life is the foundation of all abundance.  Eckhart Tolle

For each morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

If the only prayer you say is Thank you, that would suffice.  Meister Eckhart

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I’ve found that if I cultivate an attitude of gratitude it grows in all areas of my life.  Just like my oak tree which grew from a  small acorn many years ago to this beautiful tree today.  And continues to grow.

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There is always something to be grateful for.  If we shift our attitude to gratitude then we shift the awareness to creativity and freedom and anything is possible.   Take nothing for granted and give thanks for all your blessings.  That’s what I’ll try and continue to do.

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This is in response to Niki’s Kindness Challenge Week 5 – Grateful for Kindness

I wish you all a kind and mindful week ahead, one full of gratitude, love and peace.

102 thoughts on “Grateful for a Kind Life”

  1. Oh that’s really a wonderful idea !! Like most of us have personal diaries but the purpose of this Gratitude Diary is so unique and optimistic. No matter what happens the entire day with us but at the end of it you will still feel so optimistic and blessed.

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  7. Such a beautiful post. It’s amazing! We all have one planet but with different moods. I love the freshness and cosiness of winters. Stay warm. 🙂

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  11. You are so right about how much an appreciative attitude helps! Years ago, when I was feeling overwhelmed by some of the challenges I was facing, a friend told me to start saying (silently) “Thank you, God” each and every time something good happened, no matter how small. The point wasn’t to become more religious, the point was to acknowledge the good things that were happening. At the time, I thought it was sort of trite, but I tried it anyway. And it helped. I still do it. I like your idea of a gratitude journal, and I think I’ll try that, too! Thanks, Miriam!

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  15. I am grateful our paths crossed! Your spirit and beauty are making a huge difference in people’s lives. Blessings pour into your days! Love and hugs! You need to publish your journals…six years of incredible material I am certain!

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  18. I love this post Miriam! I always kept a journal for over 15 years and still have them. I stopped after having kids and the blog was a way to continue it. But I miss the private feelings I used to write about. I think it may be time for me to start my own little journal again and keep it by the bed. Any recommendations for how to start? Sounds amazing!

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    1. I can recommend the journal that I use. It not only has space to write but inspirational quotes, a moon orientation chart and an astrology guide plus heaps more. If you go to givingthanks.com.au you can get more info. Hope that helps. There’s probably many others on the market as well. Have fun Nicole.

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      1. Thanks Miriam! I’ve been feeling stressed
        Lately with school out and all the running around. I feel overwhelmed and when I get this way I need to take some time
        To relax and reflect. I love the idea of the journal. 😊

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        1. Sorry to hear that Nicole, the craziness of life often has a tendency to overwhelm us. I hope things eventually slow down for you and you have a chance to relax a bit. Take care. xo

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  19. Aw, Miriam! This is wonderful…I also have a gratitude journal and it really helps us to focus on the important things and taking life as it comes! 🙂 I try not to repeat my blessings, to help me to pay attention to what surrounds me! Wonderful post, thank you so much for sharing ❤

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  20. Beautiful pictures and quotes. I too have started a gratitude journal, it was meant to be a month long experiment and well I am still writing. I actually find on those crazy, stressful, emotional day, I will write more and find more things to be grateful for even if it is just nature and a cup of tea.
    Thanks for sharing, lovely reminder

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    1. Thanks for sharing your own experience. Glad you’ve found your journal to be so helpful, it really does help us to focus on the positives, doesn’t it. Your “month” sounds like it might turn into something much longer!

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  21. I didn’t know you could actually buy a “Gratitude Journal”. It must be helpful to have little quotes along the way to remind you what to look for. Funnily enough, this was the quote on my Doctor Who calendar the other day: “For some people, small, beautiful events are what life is all about!” – The Fifth Doctor. 🙂

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  24. I must sound like a broken record but what a beautiful post Miriam! I too find the sunrise spectacular. Not only is it the confirmation that I’ve been fortunate enough to wake up another day, but no two are ever the same. Isn’t that amazing?! The cloud formations, colors in the sky, the canvas that’s created is unique to that morning. I would take a picture of my walk to work nearly everyday because I just couldn’t believe how taking the photo in the same spot at the same time everyday never yielded the same picture.

    I love the gratitude journals!! They are absolutely beautiful and what an amazing thing to look back on!

    The tree is absolutely gorgeous!! Makes me want to curl up under it with a good book 🙂

    Thank you so much for participating in the challenge. I look forward to seeing what the next couple of weeks have in store and then the final overall reflection. Have a wonderful week my dear friend!

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    1. Thank you so much Niki for your thoughtful comment. And you’re so right, no two days are the same just as no two sunrises are the same. I had to be on the road this morning at 4.3am to travel with my daughter. Whilst I was exhausted when the sun eventually came up the clouds and formations were absolutely spectacular. It was all worth it. Thanks for hosting such a rewarding challenge Niki and hope you enjoy the week ahead. xo

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      1. I’m so glad the canvas in the sky was so amazing 🙂 My pleasure Miriam, thank you for participating. I enjoy reading your reflections and I’m so happy to have you join me on this journey ❤

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  26. Gratitude journals are such a great idea. When I started past journals, I kept at it for only a short time and then fell off the wagon. I like having a theme: beauty, gratitude, kindness, but admit I never want to reread later what I’d written months earlier. I’d like the secret to that one. 🙂 Lovely photos, Miriam.

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  27. I am thankful for something… For people like you, who are active and supportive, and always do their best to deliver good articles and comment on everyones post with positivity and care. Thank You

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    1. What a lovely thing to say, thanks so much Alex … and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to reply, life has been so busy my poor blog and it’s readers have been neglected.

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  30. I love that you’ve filled up so many gratitude journals over six years! Writing down my gratitudes gives my mood a boost, and it also helps pull me out of negative spirals of thinking. Once I find one thing to be grateful for, the gratitudes sort of keep coming (in the same way that once I am anxious or angry about one thing, the negative thoughts keep coming). On my drive home from work, I was trying to come up with everything that I was grateful for in order to pull myself out of a pretty dark place that I wound up in after a very rough day, and it was all the same things that I am always thankful for (blue skies, birds, flowers, grass, the smell of the fresh air, my cat…). I like that you also find yourself grateful for the same things over and over. For some reason, I think that I need to be novel when I write down my gratitudes, but I am always most thankful for the same things. Today, I found myself being grateful for some pretty random stuff, too (libraries, clean water, the postal system…) I’m writing down your wonderful quotes on the list that I keep, and as luck would have it, I’m also starting the three-day quote challenge today and would love it if you would participate, too. Thanks for sharing your inspiring message! https://realadventuresofbecomingme.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/the-three-day-quote-challenge-round-two/

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    1. Oh Lulu, I’m so glad that you’re practising gratitude and also participating in the three day quote challenge. Thanks for thinking of me and hopefully I’ll get to it but it might not be for a while. Life has been so incredibly busy lately, I haven’t even had time to read any posts and my own world is pretty crazy at the moment. So please forgive me if I don’t get around to it just yet … but I appreciate it heaps. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Hope you find many things to be grateful for. xo

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      1. Miriam, I totally hear you on the busy life and not having time to read other posts. Actually, I’m kind of relieved to hear you admit that, because I have been giving myself such a hard time (my usual M.O., as you know 😉 ) about not being supportive enough of all the wonderful blogs that I follow and keeping up with them, but I’ve been so busy, too. I’ve fallen off of my Kindness Challenge updates, and it would probably really benefit me to do some more reflecting on kindness and gratitude. Hope to read your quotes whenever you find the time, and I’m sending you big hugs and prayers for whatever challenges (big or small) you find yourself navigating these days. ❤️

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        1. Thanks Lulu, I really appreciate that. I think that all of us get caught up in the pressure of feeling like we have to keep up with everything. In reality, it’s hard. And sometimes some things just have to give. We can only do so much. Let’s just be kind to ourselves and try not to put so much pressure on ourselves. Hugs and prayers to you as well Lulu. xo

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  32. I love everything about this post – your evocative words, that gorgeous sunrise and those beautiful journals. What a great Christmas gift to yourself those must make 🙂 You’ve inspired me to try and start one of my own 😀

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  33. I don’t have a journal at the moment (itching to start writing in one though) but I do note down my blessings. They come in every form, be it small or big, and I have no desire to ignore them 🙂 Posts like these always keeps me positive even I’m when I’m down. Thank you for that 🙂

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  40. Wow! Exactly what I posted today on my FB page. It’s so refreshing to read your post touching on gratitude. Loved that beautiful tree, it’s so picturesque. One of the many wonders and beauty of Nature.

    Being grateful and thankful is a lifestyle I have embraced over the years. Being grateful and appreciating little things pave way for bigger blessings. Thank you for sharing! 🙂

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  42. I’m grateful that I read this just as I’m heading off to sleep…your reminder of a past practice I had was very timely and appreciated. (I recognize a few of the diaries from my past) Today…I am grateful for many things; especially WordPress and all its many wonderful souls that shine their light, as best as they can…for all the world to see. In gratitude…thank you, dear one 💟

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  43. Wow. Gratitude diary. That sounds like a great idea. I mean often we look forward to some great materialistic pleasures and when that does not happen we get so dejected. And all those tiny joys which had been feeding our happiness gets forgotten in the moment. I can only imagine how much the diary will come into help then. I guess we all should start one 🙂

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    1. It works for me but it mightn’t be for everyone. For me keeping a Gratitude Diary keeps me grounded on the little things in life I have to be grateful for. But I’ll be honest sometimes I have a little rant in there too, and release the frustrations, so it’s not just the good things I write about … 🙂

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  44. Oh Miriam I love this! And I love your journal!! Thank you ❤ Blessings your way
    ps – these lines are exquisite: "What I’ve noticed mostly is that it’s the little things that really matter. Not the grand scale things."
    Much love ❤

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    1. And I’m grateful that you’re with me on this journey. Thank you for your beautiful comment. I hope you’re having a lovely week. xo

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