Seeing the World Through Gratitude: Thoughts as I Enter My Third Year

I started a daily practice of writing down "thank yous," and
before I knew it, I had entered my third year.

I've been inviting others to join me,
and while some people keep up with it perfectly every day,
others take breaks along the way or come back to it later.
Actually, I think that's perfectly fine.

Rather than continuing perfectly,
the meaning lies in the act of "taking time to focus on gratitude" itself.

I have received comments like these from those who continue this practice.

There are days when I'm too busy to reflect.
There are days when I can't write.
But it has become a habit that I feel like I "want to continue if I can."

It's frustrating that I can't articulate it in a more persuasive way,
but that is how much the "way of seeing the world" has changed
for those who keep doing it✨

When what you see changes, the way you feel changes

The gratitude practice is not about looking for special events.

• The sky was beautiful today

• My child was laughing

• The meal was delicious

• The day ended safely

I put such small things into words.

But strangely enough,
as I keep writing, I feel like the "total amount of happiness" has increased.

I don't think that happiness has actually increased suddenly, but rather
the perspective to notice happiness is being cultivated.

People find it easier to see what they focus their attention on.
I truly realize that this is the case!

Writing words in an album has the same effect

And,
I have realized that the act of continuing to write messages in albums,
which I have been doing for 16 years,
has the exact same effect lol

When we choose photos and add words to them, we are asking ourselves questions like this.

Actually, rather than asking myself questions,
it might be more accurate to say that I am unconsciously writing things down from that perspective.

“What do I want to convey to this person?”
“What kind of feelings from this moment do I want to remember?”

In other words, it is
the work of re-assigning meaning to events.

A day that just passes by turns into a
“day worth sharing”.

A simple record turns into
“warm memories”.

If the gratitude practice is a habit for adjusting the focus of your daily heart,

then I believe an album with messages is
a habit for adjusting the focus of your life's memories.

It's okay if there are days you can't write three things

I have set it up as a format of “writing down three things you are grateful for.”
But as I continue, there are all kinds of days.

There are days when gratitude overflows so much that I even feel I have to narrow it down to three,
and there are days when so much happens that
I can't even come up with one.

Even one is fine.
Even a single word is fine.
It's also fine if you couldn't write anything today.

One is better than zero.
Consistency is better than perfection.

A place where you are free to come and go, and free to return.
That is the atmosphere of this practice.

Small words adjust the direction of the heart

I believe gratitude is not a personality trait, nor a talent, but
training for the perspective you choose to focus on.

By writing, the direction of your feelings is adjusted.
By putting it into words, your heart finds calm.

And that also becomes a gift
for your future self or someone precious to you.

Today, too, one small thank you.
I feel that is enough. ♡

Thank you for reading today as well♡

I am cultivating a "cheerful way of living" through the power of photography.
Click here for my self-introduction🌿