whatsoever things are lovely... think on these things


Exactly five years ago I began the practice, at bedtime, of writing a list of five things that have made me happy that day. It has been so good for me to do this, to look for the small beauties of life as well as remember the big, wonderful things. I now have over 1700 searchable entries recording snippets from my life over the last five years, which feels like a priceless asset.

Here are my top twenty nouns, verbs and adjectives. Naturally, tea is right up there. Chicken was a surprise. 

Imogen [my grandaughter], tea, bed, garden, sunshine, lunch, sleep, fire, bath, home, Toby, Isaac [my sons], walk, chocolate, friends, chicken, coffee, breakfast, cake, wine.

Watching, reading, eating, making, playing, feeling, sitting, thinking, looking, laughing, listening, talking, painting, walking, singing, writing, enjoying, working, finishing, finding. 

Lovely, new, little, beautiful, nice, warm, good, hot, happy, early, quiet, sunny, still, bright, kind, busy, soft, late, fresh, positive. 


23 comments:

Jackie said...

This has made me happy.

Gretel said...

And made me happy too! Lovely Sue. X

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

What a wonderful idea! I love the sequences : "bright, kind, busy, soft"! Fabulous.

Nicky Perryman said...

Lovely!! xx

Sue said...

Thank you kind sweet people x

Mac n' Janet said...

What a great idea, I fear I shall have to steal it.

Frances said...

Sue, I remember when you first mentioned this nightly noting, and also remember my own beginning to follow the same practice.

However...after a few months of that practice, I began to notice that I would fall asleep before opening the little red notebook I'd dedicated to the fab five. I did save the notebook, though.

I love every one of your entries, and notice that quite a few were on my own lists.

xo

Katharine A said...

Hi Sue, your posts are always a joy to read, whether you're writing about ups or downs. You write so beautifully. I need to be more thankful, actually I think I am thankful but don't stop often enough to notice things and consider everything I am thankful for.

Sue said...

You are most welcome to! :-)

Sue said...

Thank you Frances and Katharine. It is sometimes really difficult, but when you start to think there is nearly always too much! I can't imagine not doing it now.

Tart said...

I like this.... A lot. A quietly thoughtful piece which gives me pause for thought. I feel inclined to try the same practice. Thank you!

Sue said...

Yes do. It really is a positive thing and so lovely to look back :-)

Unknown said...

'Soft, late, fresh, positive' - loved this post!! I will try and record similar thoughts myself, seems a mindful practice I could actually keep at!

rossichka said...

Hello, Sue! I read this post and took out my notebook, bought especially for that purpose in 2011, but completely forgotten now..:(. I had written inside for a couple of years, but sporadically. I am afraid I won't write regularly if I start it again (somehow I am not ready for that), but still I intend to try. Because you are right, there're always good things and joyful moments in our everyday life. And it's so reviving and thrilling to read them later. Like I did yesterday.
I like your idea (you always offer us lovely ideas, thank you!) to underline the words that appear most often. One can write a story, just using them as a highlight...:)

Kortney said...

I just love the lists of nouns, verbs, and adjectives generated from your lists! That there are words that surprise you...and others that don't. Wonderful!

marge said...

I've just caught up with your blog again - I hope all your buildery-house problems got resolved, and, selfishly, that you are maybe in a creative space once again - I love your art and crochet and images - they would be one of my five things...

Sue said...

Thanks Marge! Yes my builders things got mostly resolved. Work is taking up more time than before but I hope to be more creative as time goes on. Thanks for your kind words.

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Jagoda said...

I hope you are ok and everything is all right. Really miss you posting here...

Karen L R said...

the listology website is new to me. astonishingly simple. i am very intrigued. i make lists all the time.
love your quiet space here.

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Unknown said...

Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! published here