Woman in Real Life: Me time - the personal gratitude journal (with an ecojot giveaway

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Me time - the personal gratitude journal (with an ecojot giveaway - CLOSED)

I believe it's a testament to the human spirit that each January we think about how to better ourselves in the fresh new year that stretches out before us. Think of it. How beautiful is that? Undaunted by previous disappointments, we once again seek to add beauty and good health to our lives.

As I have mentioned many times, I'm regularly helped along with my goals by Sarah Ban Breathnach's inspirational book, Simple Abundance, a daily guide to living an abundant life. One of Sarah's strongest recommendations is to create your own personal gratitude journal to record some of life’s blessings each day. I have been keeping (and sometimes forgetting!) this practice for several years. I truly believe that by acknowledging the gifts that life has presented you with, you welcome more blessings into your life.

Carve Out a Space Just For You

Why not start this dreamy new year off by creating a space for yourself, a place that belongs purely to you? If you have your own desk, take some time to organize and weed through your personal papers so that you have a clutter-free spot to think and dream.

If you simply don't have a space in your home to claim for yourself, fill a lovely basket with items that belong just to you. That way you can carry your special pens, sticky notes and journals with you to a favourite chair or even to bed. I make sure I keep a set of pencil crayons for myself that the kids aren't allowed to touch. Who says adults can't colour with pencil crayons?

Your Personal Gratitude Journal

Once you have established a space for yourself, buy yourself a journal in a style that speaks to you. Something colourful and pretty or stylish and sleek. There's something about a lovely journal that inspires us to put pen to paper.

Each day, write down five things you are grateful for that day. It could be something as fundamental as your home, your car or your family. Or you might want to mention something more detailed, such as a painting that captured your attention that day, a treat you received from a friend or a favourite song that played on the radio.

On the difficult days (and we all have them) it's even more important to remember the good in our lives. Some days I am simply thankful for a hot cup of tea in a pretty mug. "It is in the smallest of details that the flavor of life is savored," says Sarah. "As you focus on the abundance rather than on the lack in your life, you will be designing a wonderful new blueprint for the future."

Enter to win $35 to spend on beautiful products from ecojot!

To help you on your journey to personal fulfillment, ecojot, the ethical paper company has generously offered to provide one lucky Woman in Real Life reader with a $35 gift card to spend on their gorgeous stationery.

I'm sure any girl would love to get one of ecojot's beautiful journals for Valentine's Day. And let's not forget the men - my hubby loves his ecojot sketchbook. Be sure to browse through ecojot's beautiful, uplifting designs, all printed in Canada on paper made from 100% post-consumer waste. Their products are available online and in hundreds of locations around the world.

Founded by the brother and sister team of Mark and Carolyn Gavin, ecojot creates eco-friendly journals, sketchbooks, children's sketchbooks, gift wrap, calendars, note cards and custom products. Each purchase of ecojot products helps a child in need in a developing country - a portion of each ecojot sale goes toward providing school supplies to kids to build their literacy skills. Find out more about ecojot by visiting them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Residents of Canada and the United States may enter to win using the rafflecopter widget below until February 4th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking to Contest Canada