What should I write in my gratitude journal?
Once upon a time, in the little town of Sunnyside, there was a girl named Mia who loved adventures and stories. But sometimes, Mia had days that didn’t feel so magical. Some days, she felt grumpy or sad, even though she had a cozy home, a fluffy cat named Buttons, and her best friend, Leo.
One sunny morning, Mia’s grandmother gave her a very special gift: a small journal with colorful pages and a shiny silver pen. “This is a gratitude journal, Mia,” her grandmother explained. “It’s like a magic book. Each day, you can write down things that make you feel happy or thankful. Soon, you’ll start to see magic everywhere!”
“But Grandma,” Mia asked, “how can I find magic in ordinary days?”
Her grandmother smiled. “Just give it a try and see! Look around and notice the little things that make you smile.”
That night, Mia opened her new journal and thought hard about her day. Finally, she wrote down three things that made her happy:
- “I’m thankful for Buttons, who cuddled with me this morning.”
- “I had pancakes for breakfast—my favorite!”
- “Leo and I built the biggest sandcastle ever!”
After she wrote down her list, she felt a warm, happy feeling inside, like she’d just discovered a hidden treasure. Mia kept writing in her journal each day, and soon, she began to notice so many things that made her smile.
People She Loved:
Mia thought of her family and friends who made her feel special. She wrote, “I’m thankful for Mom’s hugs” and “I’m glad my friend Leo shared his toys with me.”
Fun Moments:
One day, Mia wrote about a funny moment with Buttons, who got tangled in a ball of yarn. Another time, she wrote, “I’m grateful for the time I made everyone laugh with my silly dance moves.”
Little Joys:
Mia started noticing small things, like the taste of warm cookies, the soft fur of her stuffed bunny, and the sound of rain tapping on her window. She filled her journal with all the little things that made her days brighter.
Looking Forward:
Mia also wrote about things she was excited for, like visiting Grandma’s house or going to the park. She wrote, “I’m looking forward to having a sleepover with Leo” and “I’m grateful for the adventure we’ll have at the beach!”
Learning from Challenges:
One day, Mia felt disappointed when she lost a game, but she wrote, “I didn’t win, but I learned to keep trying!” Writing helped her feel better, even on tough days.
Acts of Kindness:
Mia also started noticing kindness, like when her teacher praised her for helping a friend or when a neighbor gave her a flower. She wrote, “I’m happy I helped clean up the classroom today” and “I’m thankful my friend lent me his crayons.”
Soon, Mia’s journal was filled with pages of her magical moments. And a funny thing happened—she started to feel happier and more grateful every day! Even on cloudy days, she could flip through her journal and remember all the wonderful things that made her life special.
From then on, Mia knew she’d found real magic: the magic of gratitude!