With Thanksgiving at hand and uncertain economic times in everyone's future, I'm seeing a lot of articles on gratitude in my daily reading this week. The suggestions offered vary from each person sharing something for which he or she is grateful as the family gathers at the table to ways to incorporate a gratitude journal into your daily life.
One I found particularly interesting focused on the benefits of recognizing the blessing in our lives. It turns out it isn't just the polite or pious thing to do, it's good for your health, too. People who regularly acknowledge their gratitude have less stress, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for depression. Grateful people don't focus so much on their pain and problems so they can direct their energies in other, more positive ways and their bodies respond accordingly.
But you can't just do it once a year and expect the reap all the benefits. It's like exercising...it needs to be practiced regularly. When you express a feeling like gratitude, you amplify it. The same thing happens with happiness...the more you focus on the things in your life that make you happy, the happier you will be. That's part of the reason why scrapbooking is so appealing...we're reliving happy memories and that makes us feel good.
So I have a plan for my own post-Thanksgiving gratitude exercises. Rather than repeat the Photo-A-Day in 2009, I'm going to do something like 52 Blessings. That's a public Flickr group where people are encouraged to publish weekly photos of something they are grateful for. I'm not sure if I'll post my photos on Flickr or compile them in some other way but I love the idea of going through each week thinking about the blessings in my life..looking for and recording those things, big and small. I see it as a new opportunity to tell a different story of our everyday life in photos.
52 weeks...52 photos...52 blessings. Want to join me?
Hi Brenda!
I love this idea and would love to join in!!!
Posted by: Melodee Langworthy | November 26, 2008 at 06:52 AM
That is a fabulous idea - and once a week is doable. I'm so in!
Posted by: Sarah (SEB) | November 26, 2008 at 06:53 AM
Absolutely! I'm in. What a great way to be reminded all year long of how truly blessed we are.
Posted by: Mary C | November 26, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Count me in! I love the idea!
Dana in VA
Posted by: Dana Smith | November 26, 2008 at 09:53 AM
I started the 52 Blessings on flickr last year and ended up posting about 10 photos -- a little short of the 52. I think this year I am going to do an actual album where I can put the photo and add journaling about each blessing. I think this will keep me motivated. I already have a beautiful 8x8 white on white album created in a Heidi Swapp class called "Grateful" that I have never put anything in, so I have a head start. I am making the promise to myself to create this album in 2009. Thanks, Brenda, for the reminder to be grateful for all of our blessings.
Posted by: Terri | November 26, 2008 at 11:17 AM
This is a terrific project and I would love to join in on this too! Taking one day a week to count your blessings, what a great way to keep a positive attitude.
Posted by: Susana Okada | November 26, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I made and started a Gratitude Journal last year with 52 pages. I think I completed 13. Just the other day, I found it and decided to start again, and not worry if it's in order or every week. It's certainly not because I lost sight of my blessings. I'm aware of those every day.
Posted by: Karen | November 26, 2008 at 02:39 PM
I'd love to join you! I wanted to do one for the month of November, but who was I kidding?! A page a day is just way too much for me. A page a week I can handle. And a specific focus on blessings for a year speaks to my heart right now.
Posted by: Pat | November 26, 2008 at 05:58 PM
What a wonderful challenge, Brenda! I'll join you - and I'm grateful to you for asking!
I think I'll do an album as well - what a great way to use some of Kolette's downloads!
Posted by: LisaW | November 26, 2008 at 06:38 PM
I love the idea and think that it is very doable. I want to make an album and I am so excited about this idea!
Thanks.
Denise
Posted by: Denise Groves | November 26, 2008 at 07:24 PM
That is a wonderful idea Brenda..how about starting a CK group to post the photo's/LO's in? Maybe?
Posted by: sandee | November 26, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I love this idea. I think that I wil try. Do you think I will finish?I may try 12 blessings. I love you, and the way you help me focus on what is important. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Bonnie
Posted by: Bonnie | November 26, 2008 at 07:36 PM
I'd love to join in !!!
Posted by: Donna | November 26, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Love this idea Brenda! So glad I found your blog!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Posted by: Michele H. | November 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Brenda, I agree that this is a good idea and will start us in a positive direction for the new year to concentrate on our blessings. I look forward to this challenge and am thankful you are sharing your ideas.
Posted by: Janet | November 27, 2008 at 10:34 PM
I am with you on this one Brenda!
I love it when you typed the words "People who regularly acknowledge their gratitude", because ya know, everyone is blessed, some are blessed in bigger ways and some are blessed in smaller ways and are not even aware of those blessings but even those smaller blessings are still blessings and we all should acknowledge our blessings.
Thank you Brenda! I love the idea!
Posted by: Leslie Herbert | November 29, 2008 at 06:43 AM
Sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Shannon C | November 30, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I really love the idea! Love that it is once a week too. Perfect! Can't wait to start!
Posted by: linda | November 30, 2008 at 11:05 PM
What a great alternative to doing Project 365 again. I would love to join you in A Gratitude Project!
Posted by: jillconyers | December 23, 2008 at 05:18 AM