Finding a Theme of Music in My Gratitude Journal
About 10 years ago, I started keeping a gratitude journal. (It was an Oprah thing. Everyone was doing it. It was because of that little bestseller called Simple Abundance.) The idea is to write down five things that you are grateful for every day. And not just the big things, like your family and your health, but little things. The overlooked blessings. Like a Cinnamon Dolce Latte or a hug from my son. Writing them down means you are giving conscious thanks (instead of those fleeting moments where you just think to yourself, "Wow. That was awesome.").
So now I have lists and lists of those simple pleasures. You're supposed to skim them every once in a while and see what themes reoccur, and therein lies your contentment. My theme appears to be music. Here are some entries from my 2008 journal. Feel free to post a few of your own. Then maybe I'll e-mail the link to God.
Hearing Dierks Bentley sing "Prodigal Son's Prayer" live tonight.
Loretta Lynn confided in me today that she's a little jealous of Trisha Yearwood because "Doggone, she got the man." Adorable.
Pat Green is very funny after a few drinks.
Watching Jimmy Mattingly play fiddle with Dolly Parton tonight.
Finally figured out what Ashton Shepherd is saying. It's "cooler," not "cooter."
Hearing Allison Moorer do "Both Sides Now."
Jesse learned to play "Beaches of Cheyenne" today.
Watching old couples two-stepping at Alan Jackson's show tonight.
Seeing Trace Adkins for $10 today.
Maddy got a real, personal thank you note in the mail today from Taylor Swift.
The sound of live country music when I first pulled into the Country Thunder parking lot today. And the sound of the wine I poured after I filed my story and pictures.
Watching Tim McGraw do David Allan Coe's "The Ride" tonight. That never gets old. Ever.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Katie says:
My mom does one of these…
Rachel says:
I totally heard ‘cooter’ the first 100 times I heard the song as well. In fact I had an entire conversation at my office about it one day - and now everyone I work with can only hear ‘cooter’ as well whenever the song comes on the radio.
Cricket on Froggy 104 says:
Wait, it’s not cooter? JK.
Okay, now I have a great gift idea for my sister for Christmas. Thanks, Alison!
Really, Alison says:
Had a nice lunch at Hackney’s on Harms with someone I hadn’t seen in years would have been in mine.
Oh well.
jakes janet says:
Happy Thanksgiving Allison, some of my moments have had your name on them too. For instance, the picture that you shot of Dierks Bentley surfing the crowd at Chicago’s Joe’s Bar, and the response the I totally concurred with re: Feel that Fire. Thanks for giving.
Janet
MiaT says:
A few of mine….
Heard “Just to see you smile” when I was with my sister and we sang it together!
Went to see Keith Urban with my son Alex who loves to play guitar. 7th row!!! Awesome
Got my husband to take me to see Tim McGraw “Again”…
I met a really cool country chic at a meet & greet for Tim McGraw. Wow she looks like that girl from the Dixie chicks.
I KISSED Tim McGraw today!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes mine almost always have a song attached to them. Thats how much music plays a part in my life.
Happy Thanksgiving Alison!
Alison Bonaguro says:
Really, Alison: Would that have been because of the company? Or because of the kick-ass onion loaf?