gratitude photo journal

I've probably said this about 1,000 times over the lifespan of this blog, but implementing a gratitude practice is far different than proclaiming just an attitude of gratitude. The attitude is the starting point -- the practice is where the magic happens. The attitude fluctuates with our shifting energies, moment to moment, depending on what life throws our way -- the practice keeps us grounded and focused, and our wells of thanks full for those times when we need to dip into the reserve tanks.

Some folks recently mentioned to me that it's difficult to keep up with a daily gratitude journal in the midst of every day chaos, and hey, I get it. The mornings tend to be filled with the hustle of beginning a new day, while the evenings often shift to a space of exhaustion, earned-laziness, and prep for tomorrow's crazy. So I had a little think on this, and wanted to offer up a suggested modification, or alternative, to the traditional journaling.

We clock in more hours on our phones than we probably want to realize each day (seriously, don't anyone tell me), so why not utilize those images we absentmindedly collect to our benefit in a new way? You know, the ones that don't quite make the Instagram or Facebook cut, but still must have motivated, moved, inspired, reminded, or entertained us enough to take a photo (or screenshot). Could we scroll through our pictures at night, or in the morning, taking a moment to remember what it was about those moments that ...since, if we're being honest, we likely already have phones-in-hand...make us grateful for the lives we lead? 

Here's an example from my own camera roll:

​I'm thankful for sunsets and fresh seafood in South Carolina, as shared with B and his parents during our most recent Thanksgiving visit.

I'm thankful for folks like Danielle LaPorte, who add bits of inspiration + Food For Thought to my social media feeds.
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And I'm grateful for thoughtful thank you gifts mailed from family, as an extra reminder of my time spent as "The Rev" and how meaningful that role is to me and the people I love.

Pretty easy, eh?

We might even consider building a photo folder to collect these images in 2016, where we can revisit a YEAR's worth of gratitude by the time the earth finishes another lap around the sun.

What do you think? Any other ideas on how to keep that practice alive and well? I'd love to hear them!

In Gratitude,

Trish