Small Good Things: A 30-Day Gratitude Journal

This journal holds thirty days of short prompts. Each one takes about five minutes. You don't need to be a writer, and you don't need today to have gone well. You only need to notice something, however small, and put it into words.

Why small things

Big moments are easy to remember. The warm mug in your hands, the neighbor who waved, the song that came on at just the right time: those slip away by evening unless you catch them. This journal is a net for small good things. Over thirty days, you'll start to spot them as they happen, not only when you sit down to write.

A few simple guidelines

• Be specific. "My family" is a fine answer, but "my daughter laughing at her own joke before she finished telling it" is one you'll remember.
• Write by hand if you can. Slowing down helps you notice more.
• Keep it honest. Hard days count. Some days the good thing might simply be that the day is over. That's allowed.
• Don't grade yourself. A short entry is still an entry.
• If you miss a day, keep going. Turn to the next prompt. There is nothing to catch up on.

How the thirty days are organized