Happy Wednesday, friends!
I have TWO POSTS for today.
First, I’m sharing some pics and such from my time on Nantucket. You can see that post HERE.
Today, I’m also talking about GRATITUDE & CALENDARS which was a nugget for me to ponder after reading…
…Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life by Erin Port.
I shared this book in my FEBRUARY BOOK REVIEW and ABSOLUTELY recommended it.
I jotted down several topics/points to ponder/etc from this book to reflect on now and later and one of them that really struck a cord with me is the one I want to address today.
In the book, Erin has a little section dedicated to writing down what we’re grateful for each day. Now, you know that I LOVE this practice. I’ve shared many, many, MANY times before that for 13 years in a row, I kept a gratitude journal. The practice of writing down five things every single day that I was grateful for absolutely changed my life.
Two years ago, I was influenced by my dad and began a Saturday Gratitude list which I work on each week.
I believe gratitude and contentment really do go hand in hand. (I shared a contentment post last year!)
So, when I got to her little section on gratitude in the book, I was really excited to see a topic I love so much addressed, BUT what I really loved was that she emphasized looking at our gratitude list and then looking at our calendar and making sure they go together.
Whoa.
I hadn’t thought about that before.
I absolutely do not want this to be a substitute for you actually reading the book (because you should read it!), but here are some of the key points that she made that really made me stop and think…
1: When you look at your gratitude journal, are there areas that you need to include MORE of in your calendar? Things that really bring you joy but you don’t consistently make time for in your schedule.
2: And on the flip side, are there things you are making a lot of time for in your calendar and yet, they don’t bring you any gratitude…but you/we/me keep doing them out of habit/because we “think” we should/routine/habit/etc?
3: Are there little tweaks we can make to get more of what we’re grateful for on our calendar? She lists some examples like waking up earlier, actually scheduling time with people you want to spend time with (like your husband/kids/yourself/etc), scheduling the gym/lunches with friends/time to read…the list is long.
I sat down last Saturday with my Saturday Gratitude list and opened my Cozi app and saw that SO MANY of the things that really bring me joy in life were not on my calendar. Even if we don’t think we can remove things, we can probably sprinkle in some things.
So, I’m passing this nugget now off to you too.
If you don’t already write down things you’re grateful for, let me encourage you to do that. For me, these aren’t “big” things, these are those small, everyday things that make me grateful. Recognizing the small things really does shift so much. After that, compare it to your calendar. Now that I’ve been made aware, I’m not sure I’ll be able to “un-see” this practice too. I think now each week when I add to my list, I’ll think about how I can add more of it to my calendar (and maybe take things off too).
I could do several posts on Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life. It’s a great book, friends! I highly recommend it!
Alrighty, thoughts in the comment section and don’t forget to pop over and check out my time this week on Nantucket. That was something on my gratitude list that I put on my calendar, and I came home yesterday so happy that I did.
I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
This is such a great idea! We may remember what things bring us joy but to put them in a calendar so we remember them is so smart! Thank you, Shay!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Alison says
I loved this post! We had a similar conversation at a parenting Bible study that I’m attending. The leader pointed out that we have to determine the kind of people we want to raise and then look at our calendar and see if our priorities are in line with our goals as parents. It really changed the way I view my calendar.
Mix and Match Mama says
Wow! This is powerful!
Paula Hobbs says
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing! Ordering the book now!
Mix and Match Mama says
I think you’ll really be inspired!
Carol says
Love this book. Have already read it once and now re reading it. Love it so much that I am thinking doing what you had posted that Andrew did with a book (can’t remember the name of it-the one he ordered extra copies to give away), ordering extra copies and giving them to friends . A great idea.
Mix and Match Mama says
Me too! I typically shelve books I’ve already read, but I can’t seem to put this one away. And that book was Die with Zero! Another great book!
Carol says
Thanks! I will get it and read it also.
Beth Valenta says
Love a gratitude list! I have my kids at school journal and practice this when they feel life is “unfair.” I am guilty of feeling guilty to enlist time for just me. I am always, always referring to the list to see if I have time for the walk, time for that friend, but you are right, putting them on my calendar as to do’s might just work!
Kara says
I have been loving this book! It is so easy to get caught up in “what we always do” but I’m really leaning into joy and what brings that to my life, big or little! Thanks for the recommendation!!
Heather says
This may seem like an odd question, but when you say you write down the little things, what do you mean by that? For years I’ve wanted to start a daily gratitude journal but it seems like it would be the same things each day. (Now mind you, I run a very busy company and so my days are very structured and very much the same…wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to the gym and rinse and repeat every single day.) I think my gratitude journal would be the same every day: Thankful for my family, my health, the success of my business, repeat, repeat, repeat. Would love any advice on how this got you thinking beyond the same things you’re thankful for.
Mix and Match Mama says
So way back when I watched Oprah and first heard about this practice, it was discussed that “the little things” is really a great way to do it over “the big things”. Of course, we should always be grateful for the big things (and often, I would write them down because on some days, they feel more significant than others), but I tried to always find five small things. Examples would be: going to bed with fresh sheets, seeing my favorite seasonal creamer at the grocery store, receiving a sweet note in the mail, having my umbrella in the car on a rainy day, etc. Things like that. It made me consciously look around all day long looking for my five things…which in turn, made me really start to pay attention and appreciate so many little details in my day.
Amy Grace Duncan says
I believe it’s Tim Ferris who does his past year in review in a similar way. He looks at his calendar from the prior year and makes a list of “pros and cons” on a separate paper so everything in his calendar falls into one column. Then he goes through the top certain percentage, maybe 20%, and cuts the tops 20% things he disliked from last year and for the top 20% of things that he liked, he books more of it – time with friends, volunteering at your favorite charity, nature, whatever it may be, he prioritizes it on his new year calendar. It’s simple and makes a lot of sense!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love, love this!
Erin Port says
AWE I am so glad this struck a chord with you. It’s changed the way I approach gratitude. THANK YOU for sharing it with your audience. I am popping this in my email this week 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank YOU for that fresh perspective. I adore your book!
WhittyWife (Lindsay) says
You’ve convinced me… I just ordered this book 😄
Mix and Match Mama says
You won’t regret it!