There are so many things in our lives that we can be grateful for and yet, in the hurly-burly of everyday life, we tend to forget what they are and focus instead on the negative, on what we don’t have, on opportunities that we have missed.
I came across the 365 Grateful Project begun by Hailey Bartholomew – a woman who had been experiencing depression. In 2008 she was advised by a nun to write down all that she was grateful for. When she started doing so, she realised all that she had missed seeing in her life. She then began taking a polaroid of one thing each day that made her happy. As the days passed, she realised that she was looking at life in a more positive way.
In an effort to focus on the positive in my life, I have decided to photograph and write about those things which make me grateful. I shall post my photos on Instagram (my username is collinekc) and tag all posts #gratitude, # MyGratitudeProject. I shall also post these photos on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/collinesblog). In addition, each week I shall blog about what I am grateful for through writing and posting photos.
Do you wish to join me? I would love you to. My daughter has created a button especially for us. I shall use this button every Wednesday when I make my grateful post. Feel free to link your post with mine, any day of the week, and to share what has made you grateful during the past week.
Would you like to join me in sharing gratitude?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
I love this idea and will join you on Wednesdays using the button as well Grateful Wednesdays tag. We often start or end meetings at work this way; sharing gratitudes has made a difference in working relationships and outcomes. A simple yet grounding exercise indeed.
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What a beautiful idea. Does it help keep negativity out of the workplace?
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It does! I have found that it introduces humility.
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I think it sounds good for a new school year. We sure need it in our building, Colline. Going to think about how to share this concept. I gave out a photograph I had taken in NYC with graffiti that said Positivity Helps.
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Being positive helps us overcome many obstacles I think. And I am sure it will help you as you face those that will come before you in your school building.
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I would love to join you with this Colline ❤
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I look forward to seeing your posts Michelle 🙂
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That is a cool idea, Colline! I’d love to join. Looking forward for Wednesday 🙂
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Thank you Amy. I am looking forward to seeing what people contribute as well.
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Good luck with the gratitude project Colline. Sounds like a wonderful initiative!
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Thank you Madhu. I thought it would be a great way to vocalise my gratitude.
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What a beautiful idea. I can see how it would really focus the mind on seeing life’s beauty. I am not on Instagram or Facebook right now so it will have to be blog posts. 🙂
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That is perfect. And at least with blogging you can write many words and post many pictures 🙂
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Surrounding yourself with positivity (a word? I think.) and optimism and up beat thoughts make all the difference in the world when it comes to changing your outlook or feeling better about life. I am learning – albeit late in life – that negativity only make a bad thing worse. Gratitude is a worthy theme. And a worthy practice.
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Negativity, I have learned, just makes things worse. Looking at the same situation with the eye of positivity and gratitude does change not only the way you look at things, but also the way you react in situations.
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Yup yup 😉
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I love this idea and will join you!
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Thank you Angeline. I look forward to seeing your contribution.
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A grateful heart is a blessed heart. To be thankful in everything is one way to find inner joy and peace. A secret to a contentment. Thanks.
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What you say is true. And we often have to find ways in which to remember this.
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I would love to participate. I love challenges like this!
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I look forward to seeing your posts Scrapy.
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I have posted my first one!:D
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I am off to read it now 🙂
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😀
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i can do nothing unless grateful for the creations in front of me, thanks for this post collins
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And you show us such beautiful examples of nature – I never tire of looking at your pictures.
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spell checker sorry collins
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spell checker, please go to lunch, sorry colline, finally learned to turn it off, please don’t be offended
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No offence taken.The spell checker is something I need to learn how to turn off too 🙂
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Great share, Colline. Being grateful of the little things must be done. Highly suggested for everyone who wants to live a happy, content life. 🙂
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That is true Rommel. Counting one’s blessings does help one be happier.
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Good going Colline 🙂 I have something I am grateful for, today. It is very important to be reminded. Compliments to your daughter…
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Thank you. She spent quite a bit of time creating the button for me 🙂
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I am a bit early to post this first post(to me it is already bed time Wednesday night) http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/gratitude-my-first-contribution-in-sharing-gratitude/
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I will try and post a little earlier – I was hoping to catch you on your Wednesday 🙂
A beautiful contribution Scrapy which reflects something close to your heart.
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When I am ready to do something I need to do it otherwise it won’t happen. Happens when doing the challenges I know it is going to be on a Wednesday and sort of want to do it on Wed. Usually I have to wait till the afternoon here. Same with Frizztexts’ A-Z Tuesdays.
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There is quite a big time difference between our part of the world and yours. I guess I am going to have to learn how to do those timed posts as when I am back at school I will not get it posted in time for you.
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That also fine. I’ll just wait till the next morning here!
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Okay 🙂
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I love that you are spreading this positivity! Feel free to link to my blog where I do this every day and have done for nearly three years! All the best to you and all your contributors. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Loving your challenge Colline. 🙂 Here is my entry http://uniqueartchic.com/2014/07/18/gratitude/
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You have created a beautiful piece of art to show your gratitude.
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A great idea Colline.
I think I will start out with one particular mental image each day
and then try to expand on it as the days pass.
This way I can build a collage of greatful thoughts in my mind each week.
Ian
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This is what I try to do Ian – especially when negative images want to crowd my mind.
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