Once upon a time, before I became “too busy,” I used to keep a daily journal. I actually cheated a little and used Keel’s Simple Diary, because at the end of a long day, the last thing I wanted to do was think too much and simply filling in the blanks was fun and brainless (while still meaningful).
Though I no longer keep a journal, I still love looking through my old journals — filled with scribbles, doodles, and little notes to myself — for a dose of inspiration and gratitude when I’m feeling uncertain or restless.
I have always loved the idea of a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar, whereby you write down a good thing that happened to you each day, a good deed that you did, or just a little thing that you were grateful for, and put all those notes into a jar. At the end of the year, you pull out all the notes to remind yourself of all the awesome things that happened that year.
These days, I have my own “gratitude jar” of sorts, a virtual collection of favorite emails, posts and tweets that I save throughout the year. At the start of the New Year, as I reflect on future goals and past accomplishments, I read through all those favorited items and feel supercharged enough to take on the world.
This blog has always been a passion project of mine, and even if Garden Betty had no sponsors and no awards, I would still be writing. And that’s because the pure pleasure I get from reaching out to someone I may never meet, somewhere across the world, is all the recognition I’ll ever need.
Thank you for the words of encouragement, the stories of inspiration, and the very humbling kudos. I am forever grateful for all the love you’ve been so kind to give!
16 Comments
Clare Harmon
November 3, 2015 at 6:35 pmClare Harmon liked this on Facebook.
Amy Goo
November 3, 2015 at 6:35 pmAmy Goo liked this on Facebook.
Katie Lewis-Ward
November 3, 2015 at 6:35 pmKatie Lewis-Ward liked this on Facebook.
Jun Iguchi
November 3, 2015 at 6:35 pmJun Iguchi liked this on Facebook.
Tamara
January 14, 2013 at 5:22 pmCongrats on your very blessed 2012, and to what 2013 will bring! Thank you for what you have done for the Roo!
Linda Ly
January 16, 2013 at 6:11 pmThanks, and I wish the Roo much success this year!
Bren
January 13, 2013 at 5:46 pmThank you for the mention … I love growing with you on Twitter : learn so much from your blog weekly! Here’s to 2013!
Linda Ly
January 16, 2013 at 6:11 pmHappy New Year to you too, Bren!
Robin Billings Patterson
January 13, 2013 at 3:58 amYour blog is one of my favorite finds this year! Thanks for all the awesome ideas….just got my Mexican sour gherkin seeds from Baker creek, gilded my first laid chicken egg and I’m going to try the seed tape!
Jun Iguchi
January 12, 2013 at 10:54 pmJun Iguchi liked this on Facebook.
Katie Lewis Matthew Ward
January 12, 2013 at 9:40 pmKatie Lewis Matthew Ward liked this on Facebook.
Clare Harmon
January 12, 2013 at 8:53 pmClare Harmon liked this on Facebook.
Amy Goo
January 12, 2013 at 8:53 pmAmy Goo liked this on Facebook.
Garden Betty
January 12, 2013 at 8:03 pmThank you so much!! That means a lot!
Kelly Guerin
January 12, 2013 at 7:53 pmI said it then and I will say it again… LOVE your blog!!
Kelly Dugan Guerin
January 12, 2013 at 7:53 pmI said it then and I will say it again… LOVE your blog!!