I definitely practice gratitude ...life is so precious...the good, bad and ugly are all part of my journey and I embrace every stage. Well...I try to anyway...
Thrilled. Delighted. Gob-smacked... thanks so much for this reflection and endorsement, Nikki. Also thanks to you and Writers on Fire for agreeing to pick up An Ecology of Gratitude and journal your way to a deeper appreciation of it all - writing, reflecting, growing, relationships and all of the ah-ha's about the ways things are hitched to each other. What a great social experiment for growing together, building trust and learning about oneself in the context of the group... I also love that you are using the book for the long, slow burn of 30 weeks worth of prompts.
This post, read as a public declaration of appreciation is also so important. To me, of course, but, well, ya gotta' wait until you get to Day 28 and read about the life lessons that "The Gratitude Letter" generates, validating Gertrude Stein's declaration: "Because silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone". Thanks again.
The journalling group is part of Writers on Fire (writersonfire.net), which is an online (actually hybrid as several members are close enough to meet in person from time to time) writing community. I started the group a number of years ago because I just can't imagine not having a writing group - for so many reasons. Community, camaraderie, critiques, support, encouragement, friendship, fun - we meet a number of times each month, including for the weekly journalling sessions.
While WOF ticks all my boxes at the moment, I have been a member of at least one writing group at any given time since the 1980s. Put a notice up at your local library, ask other writers in your community, or reach out online to connect with writers who seem to be on the same page as you. Some groups are very open to new members, others have quite the adjudication process. If you can't find a good fit, decide what you'd like to get out of a writing group and start one yourself. You don't need a ton of members to create an amazing little community :)
Format-wise, anything goes. Some groups only focus on critiques, others gather for quiet writing time, some provide group prompts, while others focus on a single genre (e.g. poetry or sci-fi). While we (WOF) have lots of options for meetings (there are several meetings of different types each week as well as occasional in-person retreats and workshops), not everyone goes to everything. Other groups I've been part of offer fewer meetings, but every member tries to attend pretty much every meeting.
I’ve just gone a year of (almost) daily ‘morning pages’ as per ‘The Artists Way’ and it has been life changing: Not necessarily a gratitude journal - but I am hugely grateful for Its slow burn impact. So many little revelations over a year of talking to myself on the page every morning about sources of joy/inspiration/hope/love/creativity and rage/grief/fear/irritation. I have an increasing self awareness and ability to be on my own team about all things, that I’ve never before experienced. Once the pettiness and insecurities are aired and discussed with the self (in the morning pages method) there is so much more space for useful thoughts about art making...
There is something powerful about the consistency of the morning pages... and, the timing - clearing out whatever needs to be set aside before the day begins is like standing at an open window and sucking in a big lungful of fresh air. You're very right about making space for useful thoughts/reflections about art making/writing/creative endeavours.
I'm not as consistent as I'd like to be these days - but I also know that for me there is an ebb and flow to journalling - and I don't worry too much if there are gaps. I know I'll return to the notebooks in good time and will be happy to do so (and future me will be happy to have done so).
Yes. Morning pages! I have been consistently writing each morning since 1995 - during the middle of busy mother life and times and wondering if there was a separate self in there. There was. There is and it's great that you are finding greater self-awareness with The Artist's Way - great! I think Cameron does a great job of setting up some good habits - first thing in the morning, 3 pages a day, letting the Universe speak to you, and keeping an eye open for serendipity. The shift in point of view that my journal practice arose when - and it sounds like yours is similar - after writing through the mud and the muck of whatever is holding down the corners of your mouth, I could look up and seek a brighter horizon full of possibilities. Rather than staying mired in my personal foibles, weaknesses and blocks, I think we all grow taller when we get to a more positive place. Positivity in general, Gratitude specifically is a way to broaden and build. Negativity? And the science confirms it - negativity keeps us fearful, small and narrow. Glad your art making is finding the beneficial spin-offs. Such a great use of your journal. Now - may I suggest that you consider starting a separate journal that is filled with gratitudes and see how that helps your art to sparkle and get shinier?
I definitely practice gratitude ...life is so precious...the good, bad and ugly are all part of my journey and I embrace every stage. Well...I try to anyway...
That's all we can do - try to find those moments of gratitude even when things are going sideways :)
Nikki!
Thrilled. Delighted. Gob-smacked... thanks so much for this reflection and endorsement, Nikki. Also thanks to you and Writers on Fire for agreeing to pick up An Ecology of Gratitude and journal your way to a deeper appreciation of it all - writing, reflecting, growing, relationships and all of the ah-ha's about the ways things are hitched to each other. What a great social experiment for growing together, building trust and learning about oneself in the context of the group... I also love that you are using the book for the long, slow burn of 30 weeks worth of prompts.
This post, read as a public declaration of appreciation is also so important. To me, of course, but, well, ya gotta' wait until you get to Day 28 and read about the life lessons that "The Gratitude Letter" generates, validating Gertrude Stein's declaration: "Because silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone". Thanks again.
Thank YOU for your work in this space :) I am very disciplined about NOT reading ahead, but I am now very curious about Day 28...
I love hearing about your weekly journaling group! How did you find them? I’d love to be part of something similar. ☺️
The journalling group is part of Writers on Fire (writersonfire.net), which is an online (actually hybrid as several members are close enough to meet in person from time to time) writing community. I started the group a number of years ago because I just can't imagine not having a writing group - for so many reasons. Community, camaraderie, critiques, support, encouragement, friendship, fun - we meet a number of times each month, including for the weekly journalling sessions.
While WOF ticks all my boxes at the moment, I have been a member of at least one writing group at any given time since the 1980s. Put a notice up at your local library, ask other writers in your community, or reach out online to connect with writers who seem to be on the same page as you. Some groups are very open to new members, others have quite the adjudication process. If you can't find a good fit, decide what you'd like to get out of a writing group and start one yourself. You don't need a ton of members to create an amazing little community :)
Format-wise, anything goes. Some groups only focus on critiques, others gather for quiet writing time, some provide group prompts, while others focus on a single genre (e.g. poetry or sci-fi). While we (WOF) have lots of options for meetings (there are several meetings of different types each week as well as occasional in-person retreats and workshops), not everyone goes to everything. Other groups I've been part of offer fewer meetings, but every member tries to attend pretty much every meeting.
Love journaling. I have a pile of journals from 2006 to present. Could--probably should--be a book.
Michael Mohr
Sincere American Writing
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Oh, I have no doubt you have at least one (and likely several) good books to be mined from that pile of journals...
I’ve just gone a year of (almost) daily ‘morning pages’ as per ‘The Artists Way’ and it has been life changing: Not necessarily a gratitude journal - but I am hugely grateful for Its slow burn impact. So many little revelations over a year of talking to myself on the page every morning about sources of joy/inspiration/hope/love/creativity and rage/grief/fear/irritation. I have an increasing self awareness and ability to be on my own team about all things, that I’ve never before experienced. Once the pettiness and insecurities are aired and discussed with the self (in the morning pages method) there is so much more space for useful thoughts about art making...
There is something powerful about the consistency of the morning pages... and, the timing - clearing out whatever needs to be set aside before the day begins is like standing at an open window and sucking in a big lungful of fresh air. You're very right about making space for useful thoughts/reflections about art making/writing/creative endeavours.
I'm not as consistent as I'd like to be these days - but I also know that for me there is an ebb and flow to journalling - and I don't worry too much if there are gaps. I know I'll return to the notebooks in good time and will be happy to do so (and future me will be happy to have done so).
Yes. Morning pages! I have been consistently writing each morning since 1995 - during the middle of busy mother life and times and wondering if there was a separate self in there. There was. There is and it's great that you are finding greater self-awareness with The Artist's Way - great! I think Cameron does a great job of setting up some good habits - first thing in the morning, 3 pages a day, letting the Universe speak to you, and keeping an eye open for serendipity. The shift in point of view that my journal practice arose when - and it sounds like yours is similar - after writing through the mud and the muck of whatever is holding down the corners of your mouth, I could look up and seek a brighter horizon full of possibilities. Rather than staying mired in my personal foibles, weaknesses and blocks, I think we all grow taller when we get to a more positive place. Positivity in general, Gratitude specifically is a way to broaden and build. Negativity? And the science confirms it - negativity keeps us fearful, small and narrow. Glad your art making is finding the beneficial spin-offs. Such a great use of your journal. Now - may I suggest that you consider starting a separate journal that is filled with gratitudes and see how that helps your art to sparkle and get shinier?
Love this: "Rather than staying mired in my personal foibles, weaknesses and blocks, I think we all grow taller when we get to a more positive place."