• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Patricia L. Atchison

YA Fiction & Non Fiction Author

  • About Me
    • Writing Bio
    • Press & Interviews
  • Blog
  • My Books
    • Today I Am…
    • The Book of Emotions: Or how it feels to feel
    • Little Blue Penguin
    • McKenzie’s Frosty Surprise
    • How To Write For Children, Three Step Guide
  • Sign Up
  • Contact Me

Today I Am Journal

Finding My Way Back to Gratitude

July 28, 2020 By Patricia Atchison

With what 2020 has brought the world in changes and loss with the COVID-19 Pandemic, I feel like I am on a magic carpet ride. The magic has dwindled fast, and now I’m just floating around hanging on tight, struggling to land safely without injury or damage. Free Png Carpet Png Images Transparent - Magic Carpet Clipart@pikpng.com

Before being in the throes of lock down, I consciously practiced gratitude daily. I knew many joyful and happy moments, but as the days turn into months, I’m floating through time. More anger, resentment, and anxiety hit me when I least expect it. I wake up tired and anxious and forge through the day, realizing at some point I’ve not written in my gratitude journal. My joyful moments are disappearing with the days and months.

When not writing my gratitude daily, I’ve come to understand that it is a necessary practice. It keeps me centered and focused. I discover that even with the community and world changes, there is something to be grateful for every day. Writing it down reminds me of what it is.

In bed at night, I go over in my mind the things in life I am grateful for, but putting the words on paper seals it in my subconscious. I recognize that five minutes in the morning, writing three Today I Am statements, can bring instant gratification and peace. This leads to more joyful moments in the day.

Like exercise, if I don’t get enough movement in a day, I feel sluggish and slow, ignoring gratitude in my day takes away from my happiness.

Today I am grateful for:

Life itself – breathing healthy, clean air, to have the lung capacity to take my next breath.

The summer heat – it won’t last, and we’ll be in the throes of a winter storm before we know it.

Electricity and running water – (I’ve been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic books recently – once electricity is gone – nothing works!).

Music – it soothes my soul, and I can dance to it.

Movement – it’s necessary for my wellbeing. (Side note: just this morning I twisted the wrong way and put my lower back out – trust me movement is vital).

Anyone in the medical and healing professions, any modality – you have my complete gratitude for all you do.

 

It’s a small list, but I’ll stop here, realizing that there is oh so much to be grateful for at any moment.

If you want to try the daily practice of writing gratitude, be sure to purchase my journal, Today I Am… an Empowering Journal Back To Self. The book features many creative methods to engage your mind and spirit toward gratitude, positivity, light, and love.

Have a beautiful day! I’m grateful for you spending time with my blog and the musings within.

Filed Under: Editorial - My World Views, Today I Am... Journal Tagged With: Daily Gratitude, Today I Am Journal, Today I Am… an Empowering Journal Back To Self

Daily Gratitude

October 29, 2019 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

Gratitude quote By Rhonda ByrneIt took me a long time to learn gratitude. True, all my life I’ve been grateful. Thanking people when a ‘thank you’ was due — receiving gifts with a smile. Merely being a nice, ‘thank you,’ kind of person. Until I learned what being grateful was all about, I realized that those times in my life while I was thankful for the gifts I received, I don’t think I felt gratitude deep within my heart.

When I visit my memories, I wish I had realized I should have been more grateful for the multitude of gifts I received in my life and acknowledged the challenges during those times where I neglected to cherish what I had.

As I sit in present moments, I’ve learned the definition of gratitude includes acknowledging anything within my life that gives me an emotion, which causes me to reflect or learn and be thankful for the moment. It is through emotions that we gain insights into our soul. [Read more…] about Daily Gratitude

Filed Under: Editorial - My World Views, Today I Am... Journal Tagged With: Gratitude, happiness, Today I Am Journal

Today I… Sit in Stillness

October 23, 2019 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

When we take time out of our day to be mindful, to be in the moment, to pause, is when we can see things around us that bring us joy, such as the beauty of a sunrise, or ice crystals in the air, a butterfly flitting about or a colourful rainbow. In my Today I Am… An Empowering Journal Back To Self, I talk about the practice of becoming mindful; that mindfulness is the state of becoming conscious and aware. It reminds us to return to the present moment and become aware of our feelings, thoughts, and body sensations.

Many years ago, my family moved out to the country, and I became a stay-at-home Mom. I left the inner city corporate world of computer programming and systems, settling myself into country life. After the stress of the move and fitting into a new community, I soon learned to take note of my surroundings. I noticed the sun come up every morning, spreading its gorgeous pink and yellow hues across the sky. I had never paid attention to sunrises nor sunsets in the city. I don’t believe I lifted my head to the horizon, other than to see if the bus was coming.

[Read more…] about Today I… Sit in Stillness

Filed Under: Today I Am... Journal Tagged With: Mindfulness, Today I Am Journal, Today I Am Quotes

Sharing Today…

September 3, 2019 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

Over the last few years, I’ve written several affirmations, what I call Today I Am… quotes. These statements were healing for myself, and I never thought I would share them. Then I realized some should be shared, but I didn’t know in what format. I continued writing, and then inspiration struck early one morning, and the idea came to me for a journal that people could read and write in daily. I started writing in January of this year and did the compilation into book format in the spring. And it’s here!! The excitement of my accomplishment feels fantastic, as it’s been a while since I shared my work in book format.

The journal, Today I Am…, An Empowering Journal Back To Self, [Read more…] about Sharing Today…

Filed Under: Today I Am... Journal Tagged With: Today I Am Journal

Today I Am… ___________

September 3, 2019 By Patricia Atchison Leave a Comment

What would you write down on the blank line above on this title?

Over the years, I’ve been discovering how important ‘Today’ is. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not here. Today is the most important day of our lives because it exists – now. A few years ago, I started writing what I call my one-isms. These are statements that are positive and uplifting to the soul. I’ve written many over the mornings when inspiration struck, Patricia L. Atchison Today I Am quotesometimes as early as 4:00 am! I wondered what to do and how to share these little gems of goodness, but didn’t know how to do it, nor which platform would be the best, etc.

Inspiration struck. [Read more…] about Today I Am… ___________

Filed Under: Today I Am... Journal, Uncategorized Tagged With: Today I Am Journal, Today I Am Quotes

Today… Don’t Get Too Comfortable

August 20, 2019 By Patricia Atchison 1 Comment

Today I Am Quote from Patricia L. AtchisonI wrote the quote pictured here some time ago as a reflection of the way my life has always been. Today is no different, and tomorrow too. It seems if I get comfortable, many things in my life change. The Universe has a way of reminding one that life’s lessons are not over, and it’s time to ‘move on.’

Part of my’ moving on’ in 2019 was to write and compile a journal using quotes I’ve written over several years of learning how to find my way back to self. It’s titled, Today I AM… An Empowering Journal Back To Self.

I struggled through mishaps, accidents, and losses leading to a dark time in my life. Five years ago, realizing I was depressed, I asked myself, “Who am I?”. [Read more…] about Today… Don’t Get Too Comfortable

Filed Under: About Patricia, Today I Am... Journal Tagged With: Gratitude, Today I Am Journal, Today I Am Quotes

Footer

I’d Love to Connect With YOU!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Of Interest:

  • Privacy Policy
  • Wood Lily Publishers

The Write Flavor – Author Newsletter & Writing

Sharing Today…

Copyright © 2023 · Patricia L. Atchison · All Rights Reserved ·