When I was about fourteen, I read The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank and I began to journal. Since that time, the last thing I do at night is make an entry. When we left Austin for Mexico, I shipped a large box of journals to my daughter with instructions not to read them until I was dead. Unfortunately my writing skills did not bloom until late in life and the journals are primarily filled with angst and complaining. I think she will be quite bored.
In May 2013 while roaming a bookstore in Austin, I found a small 3x5ish journal called The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal, A Five-Year Record. Each page is divided into five entries under the same date. It is a manageable way to record my life history. It also gives me perspective. It’s fun to see where we were this time last year.
Each page also has a quote about happiness.
March 3 – Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation. W. H. Sheldon
September 16 One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.
After twenty years I am still learning how to love, accept and be grateful. I am loved. What more could I ask for?
Congratulations. A fantastic achievement.
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I get giddy every time you stop by, famous blogger that you are. Thanks Jack.
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I am trying to record something that made me happy and/or something I am grateful for each day. It give me pleasure to do so and lifts my spirits if I am down.
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Gratitude is a wonderful thing. If you write WHY you appreciate a thing, how it makes you feel, makes your life easier, etc. it will have a more powerful affect.
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Congratulations! What an uplifting and “happy’ post. I am encouraged to look at my life differently and ‘allowing’ happiness rather than trying to reach out for something that has to look a certain way. Blessings – !
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Smart thinking L. Deciding ahead of time how our happiness must look limits the possibility of surprise.
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Congratulations. I continue to love your photos of the lagoon in Bacalar and especially appreciated the quote at the end with the rolling Hills of Bluebonnets. I have many happy memories of cycling in the Texas Hill Country that iy made me think of, some of them with you : )
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I didn’t even realize the picture was Texas bluebonnets! Lol. Thanks for reminding me Trish. Lots of good memories.
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I think you may be surprised at how much your daughter will love reading your journals. My aunt wrote in her journal daily and after her passing, my cousin is so enjoying reading about her mother’s thoughts, positive or negative. We sometime tend to write what we can not say. She is learning things about her mom that she never would have known otherwise. She treasures these journals above all else! Also wanted to say I am enjoying all the beautiful sunrise pictures. Love and blessings to you both.
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Thanks Kim. I guess it’s always surprising to think of our mothers as teenagers, young moms, parents to own growing brood, etc. while embarrassing to me, I’m sure they’ll be entertainment for her. Glad you stop by.
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