Gratitude journals. Oprah made them famous. You may or may not have kept one before you knew they had a name. And maybe you’ve been keeping one ever since. Have you thought about introducing the idea of keeping a gratitude journal to your kids?

The idea of a gratitude journal is simple.  Basically, people write down on a daily basis things in their lives for which they are grateful.  Of course, they are used in a variety of ways by countless people to serve any number of purposes.  People create their own rules for their gratitude journals–which means there might not be any rules. But the whole premise of the journal is to get people thinking about all that they have to give thanks for each and every day.

Appreciating what one has in his/her life is an art; I wish I had practiced it years ago. I still haven’t mastered it. But I know I can and I’m even more convinced that kids can get it a lot easier than us adults. Whether it’s two things a day, two minutes a day, or two times a day, when people take time to appreciate the world around them-and their places in it-it’s a powerful and empowering piece of the day. Kids shouldn’t be denied such an incredible experience. In fact, I bet that they’ll be grateful.