Michelle Beckham Stays Inspired With Gratitude Journal

When I posted my image asking, “When was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers?” on LinkedIn, Michelle Beckham shared that she keeps a Gratitude Journal. Michelle is such a positive person, and this is such a great idea, that I wanted to ask her some questions about it. Learn more about her Gratitude Journal below.

GTGA: How long have you been writing your Journal?
Michelle: I have kept a Gratitude Journal for over 10 years.  In fact, at this point I have quite a few filled books.  I begin each morning by making a list of 5 things that I am grateful for each day.  Some days, the list reads more like a journal or diary entry- full of paragraphs for each item.  Other days consist of a simple list of 5 bulleted items.  Despite my profession in digital media, I still keep an old fashioned hand-written journal.

GTGA:  What inspired you to begin?
Michelle: I am a writer and have belonged to local writing group, Women Writing for (a) Change for many years.  One of the women in my writing circle mentioned her practice of keeping a gratitude journal and I was hooked.  I have kept diaries/journals since I was ten years old, so the art of writing daily was not a problem for me.

GTGA: What are some things for which you are grateful?
Michelle: Here are a few random entries from this year.

I am grateful for:
Gorgeous weekend weather
A chance to FaceTime with my college freshman while she is away at school
Listening to beautiful music from a Chinese Zither
Flexibility
The falling rain, so I don’t have to water my garden

GTGA: How has keeping a Gratitude List made an impact on your life?
Michelle: Keeping the journal allows me to start my day in meditation and to take the time to notice the people, places, things, and circumstances that affect my very existence. I am more aware of the world around me and am so thankful for the experiences of each day. We are never guaranteed tomorrow, so taking the time to notice today makes all the difference in my life.