Well I chose an awesome year to write in a gratitude journal daily, didn't I? Little did I know that the year would have so many ups and downs. Let me begin by sharing a quote from President Henry B. Eyring that inspired me to keep a daily gratitude journal:
When our children were very small, I started to write down a few things about what happened every day...I went inside. I didn’t go to bed. Although I was tired, I took out some paper and began to write. And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family.
I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
More
than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever
more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt
more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the
Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the
Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did
not notice or pay attention to when they happened. My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. (October 2007 General Conference)
Every night this year I have recorded ways that God has touched my life, or written down highlights of the day, or happy moments, or beautiful scenes, and so on. I have begun this exercise before but have never made it through the entire year. This exercise has definitely changed my perspective and helped me to see that there is good in every single day. As President Eyring testifies, these few moments each night have softened me and helped me to pay attention and take notice of all the ways that I am blessed. My entries were usually no longer than a half page,and though the entries may be of no interest to posterity (in that there were numerous small or inconsequential moments/things listed), the cumulative effect of pondering and writing has influenced me, and for that I am grateful.
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