Gratitudes

I left my gratitude journal at home today. Usually I put it in my purse. When I get to work it is the first thing I set on my desk when I get to work. Breaks, when I have moments between groups, I write gratitudes. I offer thanks for the good in my day, helps me process and focus when life is lifey. 

This became my practice years ago when I was teaching fourth grade. I had a young man who was so challenging. Each day we would come in from recess and he was a wreck. He was a wreck as when I picked up the class there was a list of complaints about his behavior, his life was challenging, his behavior reflected it which made him full of angst making the class full of angst so we would come in, read. I would get out a pencil and write all the good I could find. This eased me and us into a greater, calmer space to complete our day. 

A few years later I discovered Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. In this book she outlines why it is beneficial to write our gratitudes. I began my gratitude quest, each day writing and numberint my gratitudes. When I joined Bright Line Eating Susan Pierce Thompson outlined the science behind gratitude. This vlog outlines the benefits of gratitude. She described how and why giving gratitude benefits us and shifts our brains/mindset enabling us to live a better life. I had my list begun, an understanding settled into this habit. My life had already shifted in so many ways, truly I do believe the beginning was when I consistently numbered my gratitudes/blessings, naming them, writing them intentionally. My focus shifted from the hard to the good, opening up a pathway of growth and renewal. With this knowing I continue to write my daily gratitudes, list and number them. This weekend I broke 11,000. Weird, maybe, happy, me. Grateful, me. Growing, me. Life is good. 

Working with thirty-nine readers in the lowest twenty percent of each grade level,first through eighth grade, life gets lifey or work gets lifey. Being a single mom of two young men, life gets lifey, homeowner, life gets lifey. Human in a pandemic world, lifey. Yet there is so much goodness, joy and blessings that my focus is not on the uggh rather the good. I just love noticing the good, recording and celebrating it in my gratitude journal. It makes me happy, joyful and is a consistent daily choice, happiness is. So, since today’s gratitude journal is at home, I am adding them here. 

11005 Made it to work, thanks God. Beautiful drive in, sang and listened to Names (feat. Tiffany Hudson by Elevation Worship). Woke up with the song rolling through me, listened on repeat as I drove in. You are Emmanuel, God with us, prince of peace … beautiful. 

11006 Got more reports done before students arrived. Only two left! Thanks God for a sharp mind, my job and ability to get it done! 

11007 first group of eighth grade young men, shared about their weekend. Worked,discussed life, read, wrote and asked for insight into what a driving test looks like. Thankfully for them, they show up, read, write and work every single day. Thanks God… 

11008 first grade young men, work hard, like to straighten up rooms. Their teacher worried about the one who went home sick today. Thankfully I can listen and work with such amazing educators. 

11009 Added a new student to my third grade group. She fits right in, and works well with the other two. She has two cats, which generated great conversation. 

11010 Hallway walking to pick up students, educators working with a student on math, walking and counting stairs. Love hearing and seeing students succeed, get their wiggles out learning.

Beautiful, thankful for our school, staff and students. 

11011 Students thinking, reading, writing and sharing. 

11012 First grader joy in reading and learning new words. Their sharing and hard work. Love them, thanks God! 

11013 Having students remind me they need to share their good, bad moments from the weekend…. Listening. 

11014 having an eighth grader tell me they were going to find a career that they loved like I love teaching reading so they will be happy every day. Thanks God. 

11015 Granola bars, stickers, things that make students happy… They work so hard so a little joy at the end of a hard work session makes our hearts happy, thanks God. 

11016 lunch late because of hard workers… love that we get so involved in our work we lose track of time, thanks God!

11017 Afternoons with students. I love my afternoon groups, the day goes so fast. Thanks God for these beautiful readers who love to read, write and discuss life, words and reading. 

11018 Thank you for your words this am. The promise to go before me. You did, each and every student was ready to work and learn. I am so in love with you!

11019 Sunshine, it makes everyone happy. Thanks for lighting our world. 

11020 Made it through the day. Gus did not eat my journal. When I got home it was sitting right where I forgot it. Thanks God. 

What are your gratitudes? For me writing them down, numbering them has been transformative. If you aren’t writing them, three in the evening is a good place to start per SPT. A fun experiment if you are seeking joy and happiness… 

ML