Understanding the Depth of a Simple Statement of Gratitude

Take Pen to Paper: Edition 111

Nov 07, 2024

Hi Readers!

I decided to go a little deeper on gratitude during November. This brings me to some common challenges I’ve heard from my writer friends who have tried to keep a gratitude journal.

In this newsletter:

This sounds simple and silly.
Gratitude on repeat.
Deep reflection takes time.

My Gratitude Doesn’t Seem Thoughtful and Wise

Just because you picked up a pen and paper doesn’t mean you must record profound thoughts.

I have written gratitude for simple things like coffee, earthworms, my dog, and dinner table conversations. These seem simple enough, but what would life be without them?

Coffee is not just a beverage. It perks us up and brings friends together. If you are having coffee, you can afford coffee. Earthworms work for us. They are either in our gardens or sacrificing their lives to enjoy fishing and, possibly, a meal. My dog is silly, but he greets me when I come home, enjoys snuggles, and loves me unconditionally. You may think these things are simple and silly, but they mean much more.

This came to my mind when I wrote gratitude for dinner table conversation. It is a simple way of saying I’m grateful for food, family to eat with, and being able to have a conversation with different points of view represented.

Your simple, silly statements of gratitude are thoughtful and wise.

Does Rinse and Repeat Work?

You can write gratitude for the same person, place, or thing many times and never mean the same thing.

Circle back to the paragraphs above. There can be several underlying meanings to one ‘simple, silly’ piece of gratitude.

I can’t remember how often I have written gratitude for my walks. My gratitude for them is never the same. The topic may repeat, but the reason rarely does. It is always a different aspect or benefit that reveals itself. If I hadn’t repeated my gratitude for my walking, I never would have realized the many ways I benefit and am grateful for them.

It’s through the repetition of gratitude that you acknowledge the many ways you are grateful for the same person, place, or thing.

Don’t fear repetition. It illuminating.

One and Two Equals More

The above is an obvious statement, but I am not referring to math.

I’m talking about combining the underlying meaning of ‘simple, silly’ gratitude and the repetition of that gratitude.

The practice of writing gratitude develops your ability to look a little deeper at the small things in your life.

When you express simple gratitude and realize all that’s included in the simplicity and then repeat the same gratitude for a different reason, aren’t you reflecting deeper on the subject? Don’t you gain a deeper understanding of why you are grateful for that person, place, or thing?

Deep reflection takes time, but that doesn’t mean you need to put large amounts of time reflecting during one gratitude session. It can be over the time that you keep a gratitude journal.

Writing simple statements of gratitude and repeating them over time enhances and makes it easier to reflect on your gratitude. So, your simple, silly, repeated gratitude works to your benefit and makes a gratitude habit easier to start and keep.

Chances are, if you are keeping a gratitude journal, you are the only one seeing it. Go ahead and write what you are grateful for, no matter how simple, how silly, or how often.

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

Out shopping, I heard birds nearby. The photo above shows I had to look a little deeper to discover a nest behind the brick facade of the building. Simplicity and repetition can help you look a little deeper.🐣
It’s a good practice to write why you are grateful for something. It makes it easier to see the different reasons you are grateful for one simple thing. ✍️
A quote: "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." - G.K. Chesterton 🎈🎈
This article will give you ideas on starting a gratitude journal.
I am grateful I started my gratitude journey without thinking about wisdom or depth. I discovered that these come with consistency over time. 🕰️
Practicing simple gratitude as a beginner makes it easier to create a gratitude habit.
It’s good to remember you can be grateful for anything. It’s your gratitude.

Thank you for reading. This week, think of the simple things you are grateful for.

Until next time,

💚

Susan

What is a silly thing you are grateful for? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to read about it.

🙏Bonus thru November🙏

Last year, I created a free gratitude template for anyone interested in either:

starting a daily gratitude practice
stretching your gratitude practice

The template is 31 topics and example sentences for gratitude. Thirty-one topics will get you through each day in any month. Isn’t November a great time to start?

My journaling habit started with gratitude. It has brought me more than I imagined, so it’s natural for me to recommend it.

I love having a guide and examples when I take on a new endeavor. I hope this template provides that for anyone who wants to use it. There are three ways to access the template.

Access and make a copy of this Google Document: The Daily Gratitude Habit Jumpstart
Go to The Daily Gratitude Jumpstart by clicking this link https://sgsabel.gumroad.com/l/DailyGratitudeHabitJumpstart. Or enter it into your browser.
When you scroll down the page, you should see my Gumroad home page without the “Name a fair Price” section circled. In the “Name a fair price” box, put the numeral “0” because this is free! You provide your email, and a copy will be sent to you to download.

You can also access Gumroad through my website, takepentopaper.com, which has a link to the site described above.

Let me know if you have any problems by commenting or answering this email. Technology and I are often at odds, and I may need to tweak access.

I will post the above in my newsletter throughout November. Remember, the template is not month-specific. Use it any time.

Take Pen to Paper