GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY NINE -

 List three things about your job or education that you appreciate

Considering both aspects - job and education - I'm most grateful that I chose a career I truly love and I'm proud of the journey so far even with all the ups and downs that come with it.

I tend not to number when I list because I don't want them to be more relevant or less relevant so I'm using bullets.

• I LOVE languages. I love everything and anything related to them. I became an English Teacher because out of all the languages this is the one I'm most infatuated with. I truly enjoy listening to music, audiobooks, podcasts and radio in English. 
• I LOVE explaining things I'm passionate about. I've always managed to help my friends and classmates at school when they had some sort of difficulty with a subject and I offered to help them understand because I also wanted to read, study and explain that topic to them.
• I LOVE people in general: babies, toddlers, kids, teens, adults and the elderly. I'm always looking for ways to interact with anyone whenever the right opportunity arises and I feel the need to do something for them. 

This was so much fun! I didn't want to write too much so you don't get bored. Besides, I want YOUR lists now. 

What are your thoughts on this prompt? Let me know in the comments. 

Have an awesome weekend. Thank you for reading!!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY NINE 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY-EIGHT -

 Good afternoon, my beloved readers!!!

It's been a while but I'm back now so... goodbye boredom! LOL :)

Today's prompt is very interesting indeed because it's a question we tend to have a quick answer to but I'm guessing most of us don't stop to reflect and be grateful for enough. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

What is something about your community or city that you’re grateful for?

It's difficult in this day and age to be grateful for and appreciative of our community and the city we live in but I'm going to try and give my best.

To begin with, when talking about MY COMMUNITY the first thing that comes to mind is the people who live near me: call it neighbours in my block of flat, neighbours in my area - blocks I can go easily on foot from my house. 

I'm grateful for my community because they mind their own but when there is someone in need they do not hesitate to help as much as they can. It's very rare to see these days but luckily it still happens. 

I'm grateful for my city because I am free to go wherever I want or need and choose how I want to get there: on foot, by car, by bus, by train or by subway. I tend to complain because of all the bustle and hustle but in the end I believe it allows life for me to be easier when I need it to be.

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GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY SEVEN -

 Reflect on an act of kindness you witnessed or received today

Today's prompt is very difficult to write abour because I haven't been out much except for going to my parents' to have lunch or going to the gym.

What I can say about this prompt if it is still valid is that a friend of mine thanked me for helping her study for un upcoming exam and I felt appreciated.

I can't think of any other thing... I know this is my worst post! Please forgive me!

Maybe you can inspire me and others with your own stories? How would you answer to this statement?

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GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY SIX -

 What is a quality in yourself that you’re thankful for?

When it comes to thinking about my own qualities at times it can be very challenging depending on the situation and the mood I'm going through. Right now I believe the quality in myself I'm most grateful for is being attentive to others. 

As with everything and a rule of gold in life is that you cannot please everyone and it is difficult to understand at times why some people get angry or distance themselves from you. So I just focus on all the good I can do by listening to others and showing up as much as I can. 

Yesterday I was having a lovely family lunch with my parents and one of my brothers with his family because thay had returned from their holidays abroad. On the same day I was invited to a friend's house to play a board game. I was very anxious on how to be present in both meetings so my dad had the idea of having lunch with the family and a bit before tea time be at my friend's house. It worked wonders. 

On the other hand, I still have anxiety with meeting friends I haven't seen in months and one way or the other it becomes very difficult to meet in person so I start dreading the thoughts of what they might think of it or say about it. 

What qualities are you most grateful for?

Thanks for reading!!

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GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY FIVE -

Write about a moment this week that you were grateful for your senses.

This is actually quite on point. Yesterday I was giving an online private lesson and my friend who is also my student shared why she could not be present the class before. She had been suffering from some severe earache lately so she had decided to go for a check up at the ER. Doctors explained the pain was due to the fact that she had been using headphones on that ear more than the other one and she needed to pour some drops for a couple of days.

At that moment I immediately thought of the way I listen to music every single day on my headphones and how grateful I am of not suffering any ache... at least so far. A great wake up call to start being more minful of all my senses and how sometimes we take them for granted believing they never get any injury. 

What senses have you become more aware of yourselves? Share your lovely thoughts!

Thanks for reading!!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY FIVE 💖💖💖 

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY-FOUR -

 List three ways you’ve grown in the past year

Hello, bloggers! I hope you are having a great day. Today I bring this prompt to share with you.

Considering the year is starting I believe that looking back the three ways in which I've grown are: spiritually, affectionately and professionally.

Let me start with SPIRITUALITY. Since the day I was operated on two years and a half ago, I decided it was high time to change the way I thought about many aspects in my life. I decided I woulod give it a go at complaining less, understanding more and meditating in any way possible. I have to admit it has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made since then because I feel much more grateful now than I ever did before. 

Another point to consider is growing AFFECTIONATELY. By judging less and understanding more, listening and appreciating others no matter whether theyr beliefs match with mine I have enjoyed a sense of calmness that it has only been growing ever since. I still have a lot to learn, of course, but I'm starting to see things in a broader perspective and this has led me in the right path so far.

Finally, regarding the world of WORK I have to say that I've become more assertive and self-assured in my field and that has been incredibly rewarding. I feel less pressure and more motivated to finish projects. It has also given me a lot of confidence to assist other workmates and friends in their own areas which is also very gratifying.

How have you grown in the past year?

Thnak you for reading! Have a wonderful weekend!!

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GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY THREE -

 What is a challenge you’re facing now that you can find gratitude in?

It's very difficult to talk about challenges when you are enjoying summer holidays but still I'm going to do my best and write about one.

I think that what first comes to mind is judging less, listening more and understanding better. I tend to overthink a lot about everything and consider all the scenarios of a situation I think is happening and it drains me out. The best remedy for this is actually verbalising my thoughts, anxieties and worries but sometimes I feel it is not the right time or the other person is not going to properly listen and it quickly becomes a vicious snowball of thinking and overthinking that I end up drained and doing nothing to overcome it.

I find gratitude in the possibility I get each day of trying to do something about it. Sometimes I follow through, other times I don't but I'm always trying to see the positive and feel grateful for the times I managed to take action.

What challenges are you facing with gratitude? Please, let me know and THANK YOU for reading!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY THREE 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY TWO -

 Describe a time when you felt appreciated.

This is a very nice but at times very challenging exercise. We take so many things and people for granted that we sometimes forget to pause for a minute and be grateful. Today's topic asks me to mention one time I felt appreciated but there have been so many times when I felt like this that it is difficult for me to pick just one.

Let's see. It may sound silly to anyone reading it but I believe that if it is important to you - no matter how small or "trivial" it may be - then it is important for the people around you.It's all about feelings. Let's dive right into it.

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with a group of friends. We were each commenting on our summer activities and it came about the idea of meeting up before the start of the "academic year" - we are all teachers. We started picking dates and venues to meet and one of those dates was not convenient for me, they decided to change the whole thing to suit my needs. 

Again, it is something minute if you come to think about it but when people actually say "we want you there with us" it gives me an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. 

Have you had a similar experience? Share your anecdotes! Thank you for reading!

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GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY-ONE -

What are three things that went well this week?

Good evening, guys!!

How are you today? I hope you are having a great day. The question I bring you today is very interesting to start asking ourselves when our day, week, or month is not going as we hoped for. I believe it always helps break the negative train of thought to do this kind of exercise.

Even though it is not my case, this is today's prompt and here I am ready to give it a go. Sofar, I think, the first that I consider to be going well is sticking my routine of going to the gym. Since the day I decided to start working out, I almost always showed up except for those times when I had to cancel due to social engagements. I'm feling very proud about it and I still have hope I will be able to stick to this routine throughout the year. Maybe not as often as I'm working out now because I'm curreently on holidays but at least with a frequency that allows me not to lose so much practice.

Uff, it gets harder when I'm writing at the beginning of the week because I don't have much to go for so I'm considering a week back starting today and in that sense I can say that meeting my friends for some coffee and pastries has been another highlight this past week. It's always nice and comforting being surrounded with people who lift you up and stick by you no matter what. The freedom of being completely yourself and not feel judged about it is so rewarding and giving the same appreciation back is also a very enriching experience.

I would say that starting my second square in the CROCHET ALONG project has been very gratifying because it gives me the energy to keep going and as I always say STICKING TO IT is very important to me.

What three things went well for you, dear bloggers?

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY-ONE 💖💖💖 

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWENTY -

 Write about a tradition or holiday that you’re thankful for

This is a nice one. Off the top of my head the end-of-year holidays are the ones I'm most thankful for. Mainly because my family is involved in both.

On Christams Eve, we generally split . My mum goes to visit her family in the outskirts of the city; my brothers spend the holiday with their in-laws; and my dad and I go to my uncle's house in the northern area of the province and we celebrate with my aunt and my cousins as well.

On New Year's Eve my family gathers at any of my brothers' houses or at my parents' house to celebrate and have a lovely time with my sisters-in-law and my nephews and my niece. 

What memorable traditions or holidays would you like to share?

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY NINETEEN -

List three experiences in your life that have shaped who you are.

Good evening, folks!! I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday 😊

Today's prompt gives me a lot to think about. It is, in my opinion, a very profound reflection. It has always been very difficult for me to define anything in small quantities: top 3, top 5, top 1! So, I'm always left thinking there's more to what I'm sharing but due to limited space and in order not to bore you I will just pick the ones I belive to be transformative in some way.

Let's begin with the first one: I've always been someone who has struggled quite a lot in making friends. When I was at primary school, I didn't have many friends and my classmates were mean most of the time. In secondary school, I managed to have a nice group of friends who stuck with me throughout that time. When high school was over, it was very difficult for me to keep in touch with them. University life started and I managed to have a lovely group of friends but because of different circumstances and life choices we split up after we graduated.

Work life started when I was 19 years old. Work environment brought plenty of new faces and of course new opportunities. It  was the first time I started actually belonging somewhere so I started making friends and keeping them - in fact, most of my current group of friends I met at work - Through work I started doing other activities that brought me other friends close together such as working out, exchange study trips and online networking.

Moving on with the second experience that had an impact on my life is the operation I hnad to go through about three years ago when a big lump was taken out of my ovary and they had to remove it together with the falopyan tube on the right side. I remember feeling completely paralysed before the date and it made me realised that life is very short and we should never take anything or anyone for granted.

The thrid experience that comes to mind is somewhat related to the first one I wrote. When I was unemployed for a couple of months I began to think and feel very little of myself. A friend of mine gifted me a wonderful book that would help me regain my worth and start fresh in my pursuit of happiness and employment. I highly recommend reading YOUR ERRONEOUS ZONES by Wayne Dyer. I wrote about this book some weeks ago but every time I'm faced with life-changing prompts this book is what comes to mind. It truly opened my eyes in so many ways that I read it and reread it a lot at that point in my life.

With this last paragraph, I end today's reflection. Thank you for reading this far or even attempting to read part of it. It means the world to me to be able to express my gratitude every day in different ways.

💖💖💖 END OF DAY NINETEEN 💖💖💖