Note from Lowi & G: Throughout the month of November we will be sharing thoughts, books, ideas and random stories about Thanksgiving, gratitude, family and life. We hope you’ll join in the fun and share along with us. Be sure to write in the comments section about your gratitude practices.

As we pondered how to cultivate and focus on gratitude as we lead toward Thanksgiving it prompted us to think about our own practices that we have in our lives on more regular basis.

Happiness Jars

In the last couple of years, we’ve been keeping happiness jars. Every time something good, happy, enjoyable happens we write it down and put it in the jar. Sometimes it’s not even notes. I have been known to put concert tickets, thank you notes I have received or even little mementos in my jar. Then on New Year’s Eve, I open the jar and am reminded of all the amazing things that happened that year. 2013 was the first year I did that and it was so much fun. I sat at the kitchen table and read them and had a blast reminiscing. Many of the memories I wrote down I would have never given another thought if I hadn’t been engaging in this practice. After going through them all I put the memories back in the jar and have it saved. Now when I think 2013 might have been a bad year I have proof it was equally full of joy. (Our happiness jars did not come without their fair share of funny earlier this year, click here to read all about it.)

We are participating again this year and I can’t wait on Dec. 31, 2014 to look back at what this year brought us as well.

Gratitude Journal

Gratitude Journaling is another practice that I am consistently inconsistent in practicing. I go through phases where I am really diligent and others where I am less so. I just read the other day that it’s important to change the perspective of this journal keeping in order to get the best results. So initially it started out, for me, as writing down 3 things every day for which I am thankful.

On November 1, I restarted this practice and I am going to pick one thing, person, or event each day to write about in some details. It’s a practice in really spending time thinking about it and how I have been benefited in some way. Giving myself the time to let it be an emotional experience and remembering not just a cognitive process.

In December, I will choose a new theme of reflecting on gratitude and each month determine what viewpoint of gratitude I’d like to work on.

Meditation and Prayer

I have been better at staying consistent with meditation and prayer this year more than any other. That is not to say that I am perfect or never miss a day, because I do. Do I ever!

I once heard meditation and prayer described as two integral parts and I really love how it makes me feel to think of them this way. Prayer is your time to talk and ask for what you need and meditation is your time to be quiet and listen.  While these are not innately obvious in growing gratitude I think they help me to slow down, be thoughtful and especially in the time that I am quiet, waiting, listening I realize that I have already been given more than many.

Gratitude through the year

For those of you who are not new to the Lowi & G ways of crazy life, you’ll likely know through 2014 we have spent many months looking for different ways to practice gratitude. 100 Days of Happiness and Savor October were just different ways to constantly be seeking the good and be grateful.

Sunshine & Gratitude (OK and some sarcasm),

Lowi & G

For more ideas on ways you can integrate gratitude and thanksgiving this year, Gratitude Practices for Thanksgiving or Anytime