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!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWENTY TWO 💖💖💖 

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 💖💖💖    

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY EIGHTEEN -

 What is something you’re looking forward to?

Hello, guys!

Welcome back to my daily gratitude prompts. Today the question I put forward is the one mentioned above. It is genuinely difficult for me to determine just one thing I'm looking forward to because it depends on the time you ask me that question.

I'm learning not to think too far ahead because it builds a lot of anxiety in me and it ends up being not very beneficial. Following my three main leisure activities I'm focusing on this summer, I would start by saying that I'm looking forward to finishing the goal of writing these journal prompts with the set number of 45 if I stick to the website where I'm taking these ideas from.

I'm also looking forward to continuing with my working out routine throughout the year even though I know at times it will be more challenging because of work issues and tiredness but I'm committed to work out as much as I can.

Another thing I'm hoping to continue and stick to is the MOOGLY CROCHET ALONG project. I've been meaning to immerse myself in one of these for a while and I never found the time or I made up excuses not to keep it going so I'm eager to see it through this year.

Surely I've got more things to be excited about but not to make this post too long and in order to keep me motivated with these three goals in mind this is where I'm going to stop.

What are YOU looking forward to this year? Share your thoughts 😁

💖💖💖 END OF DAY EIGHTEEN 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY SEVENTEEN -

 Reflect on a piece of advice you received and how it has helped you

This is a really tough one. Hi, guys! How are you doing today? Today's prompt makes me think over and over again about the many times I received counsel from many sources ranging from family members, to friends, colleagues and even strangers.

Out of all the people who have given me advice - and thankfully many still do so - I believe the most common one is: STOP OVERTHINKING.

I tend to think way too much before actually doing things and more times than not opportunity leaves me fmaking me feel terrible about it.

This is why this year I have made up my mind to start changing that about myself. I keep reading: START SMALL and then stick to it. This is what I'm going for. So far - since the year began - I started: writing this gratitude journal, going to the gym 4 times a week, and working on a CROCHET ALONG year-long project.

I feel very positive about these 3 activities and I truly hope I can stick to them for as long as I can throughout the year.

In other words, if you feel the need to start something new/ change something in your life my (recycled) piece of advice is: STOP OVERTHINKING. START SMALL. STICK TO IT! YOU CAN DO IT!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY SEVENTEEN 💖💖💖 

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY SIXTEEN -

 What skills or abilities do you have that you’re grateful for?

Today's prompt is as usual very interesting to discuss. I've always had many interests that I wanted to pursue. At one point in my life or another, I either started and finished; started and stopped or never started in the first place.

This year, I've decided to change that to the best of my possibilities. Let me describe some of these skills/abilities I started to work on this year:

CREATIVE WRITING: I started small with a GRATITUDE JOURNAL to see where it takes me from here. I love writing but I find it truly challenging because I never know what to write about or how to start writing about it. So, writing a journal every day or periodically can help me achieve some habit of generating ideas and then move along to something more demanding.

CROCHETING: since the moment I started learning this craft I have never stopped trying to get better at it. I have my periods of learning a lot of stitches and techniques and trying them out on new projects; at other times I continue with previous projects I had never finished and lately I've decided to follow a year-long project or to follow one project each time so that it provides me with consistency and I avoid the temptation of quitting.

WORKING OUT: this is probably the most proud I am of resuming after 15 years or so of having abandonded the healthy habit. Starting this month considering that I'm on holidays I made up my mind to resume gym classes so I've taken up PILATES and WORKOUT classes at a gym round the corner and I couldn't feel happier about it.

Tell me about your skills and abilities!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY SIXTEEN 💖💖💖 

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY FIFTEEN -

 Write about a time when a stranger did something kind for you.

This is on point because Saturday night as I was waiting for a cab outside my house, a neighbour in my building was just coming back from walking her dog and she decided to keep me company until the cab arrived and I felt so much gratitude towards her that I gave her a hug and a smile and told her I would return the favor somehow.

I've got another memory of a stranger doing something kind for me. This happened a while ago. I was on the bus when I realised that a mugger had stolen things from my bag. As soon I as I realised it, there was nothing I could do but shout and get really anxious. A young woman being close to me decided to help me by giving me an extra bus card and some money to get by. 

Since that moment, I started thinking and learning a lot about paying it forward so whenever I can I try to do that. I still have a lot to learn. 

I'm also interested in the philosphy behind doing RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS. I truly believe that if enough people do small things every day things are going to get better and people are going to be more fulfilled.

What do you think?

💖💖💖 END OF DAY FIFTEEN 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY FOURTEEN -

Prompt for today: List five things in your home that bring you comfort or happiness.

This is a good one. I love spending time at home 🏡, don't you?

My books 📚 in whatever format - paperback, ebook, digital editions. I love reading. I admit that I do not do it with the regularity that I'd like but I still love it. I love reading fiction and nonfiction. I have an account on Goodreads where I catalog my books and in order to motivate myself to keep reading I do the Reading Challenge every year by setting the amount of books I intend to finish when the year is over. So far, I have completed them all. Let's keep it that way, lol!

My music ♭ in whatever platform or device I listen to. I just CAN'T spend a day without listening to music. No matter the mood I'm in I need to listen to music. I listen to music in English mostly but at times I listen to latin american music - especially when I'm with friends.

My laptop 💻/my phone 📱: They help me decompress when I need a break. I watch shows online, stream music/videos or write and it gives me plenty of joy. Of course, both are also used when I need to work but the feeling and how I approach these items when I need to relax is completely different.

My couch 🛋: I mean, who doesn't love just lying on their own couch, right? THE comfort I feel just by being there doing nothing is amazing. At times, there's no power in my building and unless I'm lying down on my couch I won't feel at ease.

My mate kit 🧉: this is a fundamental piece that mustn't be missing in my house. There's nothing more blissful than puring hot water on my mate with a good dose of yerba mate and just sip through my straw and be HAPPY.

What are your FIVE ITEMS? I want to know!

Have a lovely Sunday, guys!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY FOURTEEN 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY THIRTEEN -

 Hello, bloggers!!

Today's prompt I think is my favourite to write about so far:

Describe a book, movie, or song that you’re thankful for and why.

BOOK I'M THANKFUL FOR is Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne Dyer. Simply put, when I was out of a job, it truly opened my eyes in more ways than I could imagine and it helped me get through that rough patch. I truly recommend it! 

MOVIE I'M THANKFUL FOR is DEAD POETS SOCIETY. I watched it for a Philosophy class doing my English Teacher Training Course at uni and I found it deeply moving and having a lot of memorable moments. 

SONG I'M THANKFUL FOR is a bit more difficult because I live for music. Music is my life, it runs through my veins. COLDPLAY are my favourite band in the whole worls since the very first song I heard from them taken from Parachutes but then there are many ANTHEMS for many many moods in my life. The one I'm going to highlight today because of the weight the lyrics carry and the soulful rock melody accompanying those lyrics is CREEP by the almighty RADIOHEAD.

Have a blissful Saturday!!

See you tomorrow!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY THIRTEEN 💖💖💖

GRATITUDE JOURNAL - DAY TWELVE -

What are three things in nature that you’re grateful for?

First and foremost, the green areas I have near my house. I'm grateful to be living in a neighbourhood where you can find a lot of public squares and open parks at a walking distance and it gives me so much joy to go around them so often to walk, to sit with my parents, to run or just go through them to make a shortcut.

Second, I'm going to say my own green space in my flat. I have a very small balcony and I decided to create my green space where I grow all sorts of green plants. Some of them bloom flowers, some others just give a wonderful shade of green that is quite relaxing to see.

Third, the possibility of going to the river at times when I need to escape the city. One of my closest friends live near the river and every now and then I go visit her and we go to the river with her son, another friend of ours and sometimes her boyfriend.

Living in the city has its difficulties as regards smog, the constant noise and a very hectic day to day but it is also true that it can offer you these spaces to make you stop for a minute, breathe in and continue doing what you are doing.

Thank you for reading, bloggers!!!

💖💖💖 END OF DAY TWELVE 💖💖💖