Gratitude Journals

Let’s face it. Teenagers are on a roller coaster when it comes to their emotions.  It’s so easy for them to get swept up in the drama of day to day living.  This easy tip will help raise their spirits if it’s a particularly low day, and help reinforce the good if all is going pretty well. Not to mention, it's a good life skill to carry you forward into adulthood. It's not like rocky roads happen only in adolescence!  Parents just need to give teens tools to help them cope.

Start a  gratitude journal. Maybe something nice from the local bookstore. Or maybe just a spiral they can keep near their bed. But the ONLY thing that should be recorded in this particular journal is gratitude. 

The whole process should only take a few minutes before bed. Sit still and think about how the day went.  From start to finish.   If you begin to think of something that went wrong, for this little span of time, put that aside for now and keep the focus on what went right. After walking through the entire day, list at least three things to be grateful for.

Here are a few questions to maybe think about.

Who did you see?
Who did you talk to?
Did you read anything that made you feel good?
How was the weather?
How were your pets when they saw you?
Did you exercise? How did it feel afterward?
Did you watch anything funny happen?
Did you see anything beautiful?

Our entire attitude is affected by what and where we choose to focus.  Hasn’t everyone had the experience where all was well until ONE person did or said ONE negative thing? And then all the good was tossed out the window and replaced with an overwhelming feeling of discontent?  So, instead of being swept away by the squeaky wheels in our lives, let’s get back in the driver’s seat. Let’s deliberately pull the positives to the front of our minds.

Try this for a month. See if it helps.

Thanksgiving '07

Another big get together for Thanksgiving this year.

Grandma arrived on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. She always thinks that's going to be helpful.
Katie was having a private jazz class with Robin that afternoon. I had already begun cooking for the big event.  Everyone has a particular favorite food, so we make a lot. We can't decide between ham and turkey - so we have both. (I know! TURKEY is a requirement. But several family members aren't that crazy about it. whatever.) And some like regular pepperidge farm stuffing while others like cornbread - so, again, we have both. And all the rest....sweet potatoes (with marshmallows), mashed potatoes and gravy (thanks to Laura for fixing it), cranberries, etc. And a million pies!

Scott (Ron's brother), Kim, Jade & Hannibal came in on Wednesday. We hadn't met Jade yet - she was SOOOO cute! She's 16 months. Julie picked up Kelsey & Kent so Alyssa went over there to stay a couple of nights.


Scott takes care of Jade the most. Probably because he's a little hyperactive and needs something to do. He told me that he'd like to sell tickets to our big event. Simply because he thinks the conversations between the older relatives is hilarious. And especially when they involve me. For instance, they stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Pflugerville this year. And, of course, they got lost on their way to my house. But I was busy cooking, so I put the phone on speaker. Jade and Scott were puttering around the dining room, and could hear the whole conversation. They were arguing with me about which direction to turn. And then arguing with each other about which way they were going. It was kind of like a Billy Crystal movie. hahaha!

Uncle Jack, Aunt Marilyn, Laura Derrick and Jackson all came on Thanksgiving day. Thank HEAVENS for Laura - she rolled up her sleeves and helped a lot. She rescued my gravy!  Julie brought Jay along with the kids in time for dinner. Jay is amazed at the number of desserts we have AFTER a huge meal!  Since Jay was raised in Malasia, he doesn't have any attachment to the concept of gorging yourself with family on Thanksgiving, as an American Pastime.  Anyway, afterwards, they all disappeared to watch the Cowboy game.

I love to cook for a lot of people. What I don't love, though, is the clean up. Maybe next year I'll hand out index cards to everyone telling them what portion of the CLEAN UP they'll have to do!  That way I can relax!

The last of the company left Monday a.m.  And, Ron left for a seminar in New Orleans. The house is pretty quiet now. Time to get ready for Christmas!!!!