The highlight of my day was taking my boys on a bike ride around the lake in Gungahlin, which they always really enjoy doing.
1) I am grateful that the communication with my wife seems to be improving.
2) I am grateful that my son was able to enjoy his birthday celebrations with all of us together.
3) I am grateful that I am able to borrow such good books from the library.
Neuro-psychology experiments have shown that if people journal highlights from their day every day, then new pathways will be created through the brain. This allows these daily highlights to be automatically generated from then on, resulting in long term benefits such as less symptoms of stress with greater mental health and happiness. After completing various versions of this exercise several times on this blog, I am now taking on a new exercise by answering five simple questions each day.
30/01/2012
Day 17 - Sun 29 Jan 2012
The highlight of my day was sleeping in until 11 am, which I was able to do because my wife and children were in Sydney!
1) I am grateful to live in such a beautiful village and be only half an hour from the city.
2) I am grateful for having an office at ANU where I can go and work on my thesis in peace.
3) I am grateful that my focus has improved and that I am flying along with my thesis.
1) I am grateful to live in such a beautiful village and be only half an hour from the city.
2) I am grateful for having an office at ANU where I can go and work on my thesis in peace.
3) I am grateful that my focus has improved and that I am flying along with my thesis.
29/01/2012
Day 16 - Sat 28 Jan 2012
The highlight of my day was discovering that self acknowledge is at the root of so many of blocks. When I have finished my gratitude journal, I am going to do a self acknowledgement one!
1) I am grateful to my coach for being a stand for me.
2) I am grateful for being blessed with such great classmates on my course.
3) I am grateful that I made it home safely, as I was getting very tired while driving.
1) I am grateful to my coach for being a stand for me.
2) I am grateful for being blessed with such great classmates on my course.
3) I am grateful that I made it home safely, as I was getting very tired while driving.
Day 15 - Fri 27 Jan 2012
The highlight of my day was the drive up the coast with my friend Vanessa, great company, great conversations!
1) I was grateful for having Vanessa in the car to keep me awake during my long drive.
2) I am grateful to my friends for letting me stay at their house overnight in Sydney.
3) I am grateful to all the staff at Kioloa for making my stay there so wonderful.
1) I was grateful for having Vanessa in the car to keep me awake during my long drive.
2) I am grateful to my friends for letting me stay at their house overnight in Sydney.
3) I am grateful to all the staff at Kioloa for making my stay there so wonderful.
27/01/2012
Day 14 - Thu 26 Jan 2012
The highlights of my day today were riding my bike down to the beach and getting so much done on my thesis.
1) I am grateful for the amazing peace and quiet that I experience when I come here.
2) I am grateful for being able to speak to my boys on Skype every day while I am away.
3) I am grateful for the internet! It makes my research so much easier.
1) I am grateful for the amazing peace and quiet that I experience when I come here.
2) I am grateful for being able to speak to my boys on Skype every day while I am away.
3) I am grateful for the internet! It makes my research so much easier.
25/01/2012
Day 13 - Wed 25 Jan 2012
The highlight of my day today was the yoga class I took. My body was feeling very tight all over, so I knew 90 mins of stretching would help and it did!
1) I am grateful for the cool weather today, it's always easier to work when it is not so hot.
2) I am grateful for the peace and quiet I experience here. It is a truly amazing place!
3) I am grateful to the yoga teacher for holding a class just when I needed one.
1) I am grateful for the cool weather today, it's always easier to work when it is not so hot.
2) I am grateful for the peace and quiet I experience here. It is a truly amazing place!
3) I am grateful to the yoga teacher for holding a class just when I needed one.
Day 12 - Tue 24 Jan 2012
What a great day! Three really successful meetings followed by wonderful progress on my thesis, and then the highlight of my day: my first game of football in several months, which we won 4-3
1) I am grateful for still being able to play competitive football at my age.
2) I am grateful to Kaz for being my buddy.
3) I am grateful to John, for all of the great advice he gives me about my PhD.
1) I am grateful for still being able to play competitive football at my age.
2) I am grateful to Kaz for being my buddy.
3) I am grateful to John, for all of the great advice he gives me about my PhD.
23/01/2012
Day 11 - Mon 23 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful to the staff at Landmark for all of the support they have given me.
2) I am grateful to the gardeners, who look after our garden so well.
3) I am grateful to Leanne for keeping our house clean and tidy.
The highlight of my day was my meeting with my PhD supervisor, who approved all of the recent changes I had made.
2) I am grateful to the gardeners, who look after our garden so well.
3) I am grateful to Leanne for keeping our house clean and tidy.
The highlight of my day was my meeting with my PhD supervisor, who approved all of the recent changes I had made.
Day 10 - Sun 22 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful that I can watch English soccer games on the internet.
2) I am grateful for all of the help that I got from Narelle on the ILP course.
3) I am grateful to Michael for giving me lots of lifts to Sydney to do the SELP course.
Highlight of my day was watching the Man. City - Spurs game this evening. Five goals, some brilliant football. Well worth staying up for.
2) I am grateful for all of the help that I got from Narelle on the ILP course.
3) I am grateful to Michael for giving me lots of lifts to Sydney to do the SELP course.
Highlight of my day was watching the Man. City - Spurs game this evening. Five goals, some brilliant football. Well worth staying up for.
Day 9 - Sat 21 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful for my boss for allowing me to have this time off.
2) I am grateful for having my mountain bike with me to go riding on.
3) I am grateful that I have the opportunity to go to Antarctica.
My bike ride was brilliant again. Just what I needed - it completely cleared my head, which was starting to get heavy from conflicting ideas I was having about the introduction chapter of my thesis.
2) I am grateful for having my mountain bike with me to go riding on.
3) I am grateful that I have the opportunity to go to Antarctica.
My bike ride was brilliant again. Just what I needed - it completely cleared my head, which was starting to get heavy from conflicting ideas I was having about the introduction chapter of my thesis.
21/01/2012
Day 8 - Fri 20 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful to Anja for how well she is looking after Jonathan.
2) I am grateful for the peace and quiet around her that enables me to write.
3) I am grateful that Antarctica has not melted yet!
The highlight of my day was making it to the top of the mountain on my bike, down to the village and back here with only one rest stop. I can feel my body starting to tone from cycling every day.
2) I am grateful for the peace and quiet around her that enables me to write.
3) I am grateful that Antarctica has not melted yet!
The highlight of my day was making it to the top of the mountain on my bike, down to the village and back here with only one rest stop. I can feel my body starting to tone from cycling every day.
20/01/2012
Day 7 - Thu 19 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful for having such a reliable car.
2) I am grateful for having such an understanding wife.
3) I am grateful to the staff here for allowing me to stay another week.
The highlight of today was spending several hours listening to my Spanish lessons in the car on the way to and from Sydney. And of course my SELP class, in which I realised how much effective action I am taking in all areas of my life at present.
2) I am grateful for having such an understanding wife.
3) I am grateful to the staff here for allowing me to stay another week.
The highlight of today was spending several hours listening to my Spanish lessons in the car on the way to and from Sydney. And of course my SELP class, in which I realised how much effective action I am taking in all areas of my life at present.
19/01/2012
Day 6 - Wed 18 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful that my back has recovered from the injury last year.
2) I am grateful for my friends allowing me to stay at their house in Sydney.
3) I am grateful for being able to cook great meals for myself.
The highlight of my day was the bike ride up the mountain through the forest. I felt a real sense of achievement after having not made it to the top yesterday.
2) I am grateful for my friends allowing me to stay at their house in Sydney.
3) I am grateful for being able to cook great meals for myself.
The highlight of my day was the bike ride up the mountain through the forest. I felt a real sense of achievement after having not made it to the top yesterday.
17/01/2012
Day 5 - Tue 17 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful to have such great house.
2) I am grateful to have such a cool travel agent, who is helping me sort out all of the details for my trip.
3) I am grateful to have a great relationship with my son in Europe.
The highlight of my day was taking a bike ride up a mountain. I only got half way and was too tired to continue, so came back down. I will try again tomorrow and see how far up I can get then.
2) I am grateful to have such a cool travel agent, who is helping me sort out all of the details for my trip.
3) I am grateful to have a great relationship with my son in Europe.
The highlight of my day was taking a bike ride up a mountain. I only got half way and was too tired to continue, so came back down. I will try again tomorrow and see how far up I can get then.
Day 4 - Mon 16 Jan 2012
A friend recommended the following website to me where you can do a free happiness test: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
I will check my score again at the end of my 21 days of gratitude!
1) I am grateful to have such great PhD supervisors to advise me with my thesis.
2) I am grateful to have an iPad.
3) I am grateful to have both my parents still alive and available for me to chat with.
The highlight of my day was getting lots done on my thesis. I worked solidly on it until about 2 am! Another highlight was the bike ride I took down to the beach and back. It was good to do some real exercise after not being able to play soccer for so long because of my back injury.
I will check my score again at the end of my 21 days of gratitude!
1) I am grateful to have such great PhD supervisors to advise me with my thesis.
2) I am grateful to have an iPad.
3) I am grateful to have both my parents still alive and available for me to chat with.
The highlight of my day was getting lots done on my thesis. I worked solidly on it until about 2 am! Another highlight was the bike ride I took down to the beach and back. It was good to do some real exercise after not being able to play soccer for so long because of my back injury.
15/01/2012
Day 3 - Sun 15 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful to the staff at the Coastal Campus for allowing me to stay another week here.
2) I am grateful to Darren and his boys for putting up the boy's new playground in our garden.
3) I am grateful to Leanne for everything she does for me!
The highlight of my day was going swimming with Oscar after lunch and watching him swim 33 m of a 50 m outdoor pool. I also enjoyed our bike ride around the village this morning, and I enjoyed listening to an audio book about football stats as I drove down the mountain to the Coastal Campus late this afternoon.
2) I am grateful to Darren and his boys for putting up the boy's new playground in our garden.
3) I am grateful to Leanne for everything she does for me!
The highlight of my day was going swimming with Oscar after lunch and watching him swim 33 m of a 50 m outdoor pool. I also enjoyed our bike ride around the village this morning, and I enjoyed listening to an audio book about football stats as I drove down the mountain to the Coastal Campus late this afternoon.
Day 2 - Sat 14 Jan 2012
1) I am grateful to the manager of the hiking store for giving me a staff discount voucher.
2) I am grateful to Oscar for behaving so well when we went out shopping.
3) I am grateful for Marie getting me on this diet. I am much more conscious about what I eat now.
The highlight of my day was going to the hiking shop with Oscar and buying things we will need for our South American adventure. I also enjoyed going for a bike ride with him across the common this morning.
2) I am grateful to Oscar for behaving so well when we went out shopping.
3) I am grateful for Marie getting me on this diet. I am much more conscious about what I eat now.
The highlight of my day was going to the hiking shop with Oscar and buying things we will need for our South American adventure. I also enjoyed going for a bike ride with him across the common this morning.
13/01/2012
Day 1 - Fri 13 Jan 2012
Finding three highlights at the end of my day has become second nature for me now. It is nowhere near as challenging as it once was. I am now going to change tack, and promise to each day produce three things that I am grateful for. I will add just one highlight of my day to the end of my list for good measure. I am going to reset the day counter to Day 1, so that I can keep track of how many days I have been doing the gratitude list for.
1) I am grateful for Leanne setting me free.
2) I am grateful to have such a wonderful daughter.
3) I am grateful that I am able to travel and write.
The highlight of my day was my meeting with two members of my supervisory panel, who gave me great feedback on my final two chapters.
1) I am grateful for Leanne setting me free.
2) I am grateful to have such a wonderful daughter.
3) I am grateful that I am able to travel and write.
The highlight of my day was my meeting with two members of my supervisory panel, who gave me great feedback on my final two chapters.
Day 47 - Thu 12 Jan 2012
1) Dropping off the boys at school.
2) Driving up to Sydney with two friends. Amazing conversations - amazing people!
3) The conversations in the car on the way back from Sydney.
I am grateful to my coach for talking me into going to class tonight. I got a lot out of it.
2) Driving up to Sydney with two friends. Amazing conversations - amazing people!
3) The conversations in the car on the way back from Sydney.
I am grateful to my coach for talking me into going to class tonight. I got a lot out of it.
11/01/2012
Day 46 - Wed 11 Jan 2012
1) Dropping the boys off at school on my way into the university this morning.
2) A very productive conversation with a Physics professor about my thesis.
3) Taking my boys to the pub for dinner. They were very well behaved and ate everything!
What am I grateful for today? I am grateful for having the time and space to work on my PhD.
2) A very productive conversation with a Physics professor about my thesis.
3) Taking my boys to the pub for dinner. They were very well behaved and ate everything!
What am I grateful for today? I am grateful for having the time and space to work on my PhD.
Day 45 - Tue 10 Jan 2012
1) Dropping both boys off at day care with their bikes this morning.
2) Meeting the manager of a camping shop, who gave me a staff discount voucher!
3) Spending an evening clearing up my desk and home office.
I am grateful to have such a supporting supervisory panel for my PhD.
2) Meeting the manager of a camping shop, who gave me a staff discount voucher!
3) Spending an evening clearing up my desk and home office.
I am grateful to have such a supporting supervisory panel for my PhD.
10/01/2012
Day 44 - Mon 9 Jan 2012
1) Meeting with Greg in Braidwood about his upcoming art exhibition.
2) Discussing the changes I have made to my PhD thesis with my supervisor.
3) Sitting and chatting around a fire in Simon's garden with friends over a glass of wine.
I am grateful for having such a good friend as Simon in my life!
2) Discussing the changes I have made to my PhD thesis with my supervisor.
3) Sitting and chatting around a fire in Simon's garden with friends over a glass of wine.
I am grateful for having such a good friend as Simon in my life!
08/01/2012
Day 43 - Sun 8 Jan 2012
1) Going for a job along the beach in the cold and the wind this morning.
2) Emailing chapters six and seven to my PhD supervisor for her to review.
3) Talking to my boys and their cousin Katelyn on Skype this evening.
I am grateful for having such two such happy healthy loveable boys in my life.
2) Emailing chapters six and seven to my PhD supervisor for her to review.
3) Talking to my boys and their cousin Katelyn on Skype this evening.
I am grateful for having such two such happy healthy loveable boys in my life.
Day 42 - Sat 7 Jan 2012
1) Walking along the rocks on the head this morning.
2) Re-writing Chapter 6 of my thesis, which was the trickiest one to do.
3) Watching the movie Nanny McFee in bed on my iPad before going to sleep.
Today, I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to take time off work to finish my thesis.
2) Re-writing Chapter 6 of my thesis, which was the trickiest one to do.
3) Watching the movie Nanny McFee in bed on my iPad before going to sleep.
Today, I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to take time off work to finish my thesis.
06/01/2012
Day 41 - Fri 6 Jan 2012
Now that I have completed 40 days of this exercise, I am going to expand it slightly. At the end of each day, I will continue to enter the three highlights of my day, plus at least one thing in my life that I am grateful for - no matter how small.
1) Sitting on the rocks at the beach this morning looking out to sea while contemplating life.
2) Listening to the Football Weekly podcast while eating my tuna sandwich at lunchtime.
3) Talking to my boys on Skype about how their day went at soccer camp.
I am grateful for my level of fitness: I still play football several times a week - often against players half my age!
1) Sitting on the rocks at the beach this morning looking out to sea while contemplating life.
2) Listening to the Football Weekly podcast while eating my tuna sandwich at lunchtime.
3) Talking to my boys on Skype about how their day went at soccer camp.
I am grateful for my level of fitness: I still play football several times a week - often against players half my age!
05/01/2012
Day 40 - Thu 5 Jan 2012
1) Walking along Kioloa Beach in the sun before I started writing this morning.
2) Talking to the boys on Skype about their day at soccer camp.
3) Cooking and eating a wonderful prawn and vegetable curry in Balti sauce.
2) Talking to the boys on Skype about their day at soccer camp.
3) Cooking and eating a wonderful prawn and vegetable curry in Balti sauce.
Day 39 - Wed 4 Jan 2012
1) Lying in bed watching a live Premier League football match this morning.
2) Finally getting back into the swing of reading and editing my PhD thesis.
3) Staying up late and watching American Beauty in bed on my iPad.
2) Finally getting back into the swing of reading and editing my PhD thesis.
3) Staying up late and watching American Beauty in bed on my iPad.
03/01/2012
Day 38 - Tue 3 Jan 2012
1) Dropping the boys off at AIS, where they will be doing soccer camp all week.
2) Getting a Bowen therapy treatment for my back.
3) Settling into my room at the Kioloa ANU Coastal Campus, where I will be spending a week.
2) Getting a Bowen therapy treatment for my back.
3) Settling into my room at the Kioloa ANU Coastal Campus, where I will be spending a week.
02/01/2012
Day 37 - Mon 2 Jan 2012
1) Clearing stones from the back of the house with Oscar and Leanne.
2) Going to university and working on my thesis for the first time in 18 months!
3) Watching a DVD of the documentary 'Race to Dakar' with Charlie Boorman.
2) Going to university and working on my thesis for the first time in 18 months!
3) Watching a DVD of the documentary 'Race to Dakar' with Charlie Boorman.
01/01/2012
Day 36 - Sun 1 Jan 2012
1) Teaching the boys how to do card tricks.
2) Cutting down the hedge behind our house with a chain saw.
3) Paying for my return flight to South America - it is a reality now!
2) Cutting down the hedge behind our house with a chain saw.
3) Paying for my return flight to South America - it is a reality now!
Day 35 - Sat 31 Dec 2011
1) Visiting the train and war museum in Cowra with the boys.
2) Showing Oscar how to replace a flat tyre on my car.
3) Going to a New Year's Eve BBQ at my friend Simon's house.
2) Showing Oscar how to replace a flat tyre on my car.
3) Going to a New Year's Eve BBQ at my friend Simon's house.
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