G is for Gratitude

Gratitude has been my theme this month---since it is the month we give thanks as a nation on Thanksgiving Day. (Giving thanks is a form of gratitude.) For years I have kept a journal--more a doodling and art ideas journal than a writing journal--but most days I do write a page of my "gratitudes" in my journal. I just list everything in my life I am grateful for and even if I have had a very bad day this process restores my sense of well-being.

I also have been trying to foster a new habit--when I feel grateful toward someone else --for whatever reason--I try to express it either verbally or by writing them a thank you note.
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it"(---William Arthur Ward.) I have discovered the more I express my gratitude, the more grateful I feel.

I believe our mostly greedy culture here in America could benefit greatly from all of us forming the habit of exspressing our gratitudes on a daily basis. What are you grateful for?

a thank a day

My blogging friend, Patti Digh, mentioned on Facebook that she had decided to write a thank you note everyday for the rest of her life!!! I thought this was a great way to express one's daily gratitude, so suggested she create a group for others to join her. You can read all about this on her blog, 37 Days.

so I have decided to join her--although I may not manage to do this everyday--even 5 times a week would be good...and I decided I would create a simple thank you card for each note---here is my first card:

As the blog turns....

As we enter a NEW YEAR-2008---I want to take a moment to acknowledge all you folks who leave friendly comments on my blog. The day before Christmas, (Dec 24th, 2007) I had the 10,000th blog visitor ! I have been keeping this blog now for almost 2 years ( second blog anniversary is Feb 2)---and I am just astounded that in that time over 10,000 folks have visited my blog. The blog readership has been growing monthly in the past year, also. This says to me something about the power of the crafty blogging community and the way the internet lets us all connect with each other.

So a shout out and thank you to these visitors to my blog who left comments in 2007 (with a grateful nod to Patti @ 37 Days blog, who gave me this idea).
Thanks to : Jafabrit, Dawn, Mary, Felicia, Kesia, Oldie, Carol, Lisa, Dawn, Lorraine, Mimi, Dee, Betty, Beate, Gunnel, sharonb, The Lone Beader, Susan, Tamara, Daisy, Libby, Nahani, Jessica, Kate, Joyce, Jennifer, Martha, freebird, Paula, Lynn, BetteJo, Kiki, Twig, Beadbabe, Stefany, Beth, Robin, Bejeweled, Lillian, Kathy, Debra, catnapping, Ulan, Kiwi Ellen, Susan, Jana, Rosemary, Brigita, Hannah, Maria, Acey, Kelly, Heather, Karrie, Summer, Carla, Lee, Jenny, Twila, Jamie, Cynthia

Your comments are the positive re-enforcement I need, so I keep posting on this blog. The comments are what let me know that someone is reading my blog and I am so pleased to become acquainted with so many of you through your comments and e-mails. Interesting (to me, anyway) the post this year that received the most comments in 2007 was my tribute to an old friend who died-- Marvel.

Today's Quote:
"Sometimes our light goes. but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light."---Albert Schweitzer