Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To not keep a flipping ‘gratitude journal’

353 replies

Eastie77Returns · 21/02/2022 21:02

New manager at work, from the US if that’s relevant, declared a few weeks back that she thought it would a great idea for the team to start keeping a gratitude journal. Not my cup of tea at all but I was wasn’t bothered as it was optional. Then journals arrived at our home addresses in the post, she’d ordered them for everyoneConfused

On our weekly team meetings she started asking volunteers to read journal entries aloud. When no-one volunteered, she picked people. A few colleagues ‘read’ clearly made up on the spot entries. When it was my turn I just said I’m not keeping the journal. I’m grateful for many things but I don’t write them down. She didn’t look happy and I’ve heard I’m now on her shit list for not being a team player or something. WIBU??!

OP posts:
dipdye · 21/02/2022 21:03

You're all British?

She's barking up the wrong tree, clearly

dipdye · 21/02/2022 21:03

And it's an actual paper book?!

NeverChange · 21/02/2022 21:04

I wouldn't do it either. Not my think and not in my contract.

Sexnotgender · 21/02/2022 21:05

YANBU. That’s weird.

givethatbabyaname · 21/02/2022 21:06

Wtf do you do for a job that your manager thinks this is appropriate?

What if your entry was “the triple orgasm DH gave me last night”?

Or is she expecting f to find herself as one of your bullet points Shock. Go on, I dare you….!

Teeheehee1579 · 21/02/2022 21:07

I would just make it up. Not worth being on a shit list for. I’m grateful for the lovely coffee I had in the sunshine this morning kind of shite

Mercyn · 21/02/2022 21:07

Bloody hell, that’s fucking annoying.

I am full of fucking gratitude that I never had such a wanky manager.

2bazookas · 21/02/2022 21:08

" I am grateful to the company for giving me a colouring book"

(proudly hold up your crayoned effort).

DysmalRadius · 21/02/2022 21:08

Suggesting you do it - fine.
Expecting it to be done - not fine
Telling people to read them out in front of their colleagues - fucking outrageous

OkThenJustChill · 21/02/2022 21:09

Haha, I want to give her a slap and I don't even know her. How annoying OP.

formalineadeline · 21/02/2022 21:09

Is she young and new to management? She sounds very... enthusiastic.

OutlookStalking · 21/02/2022 21:09

Absolutely yanbu. And I would use this as an exercise elsewhere!!!

starfishmummy · 21/02/2022 21:09

Make up something innocuous and bland. Like "the air that I breath". Write it in the book and read the same thing every time you are asked.

UserBotLurking9to5 · 21/02/2022 21:09

Yeh my therapist said that being forced to FEEL gratitude can distract you from what you're actually feeling.

Feel what you feel. Journal it! :-p Acknowledge that you feel irritated. Feeling irritating is universal experience. Many others have experienced the feeling of irritation! It will pass through. It doesn't define you.

JellyfishandShells · 21/02/2022 21:11

@2bazookas

" I am grateful to the company for giving me a colouring book"

(proudly hold up your crayoned effort).

Perfect !
gonetogroundnow · 21/02/2022 21:12

I think my biggest issue with this is that she thought it was appropriate to post this to your home address. I'd be giving her the big fuck off.

GalaPie · 21/02/2022 21:12

Blimey, mine would be a revelation
I'm grateful I only work here 25 hrs a week
I'm grateful X is off sick today cos she's been really getting on my tits
I'm grateful B has been promoted and I never have to see him again
I'm grateful C has moved desks to be near the window, her BO was overpowering
I'm grateful I'm on leave next week

TotalRhubarb · 21/02/2022 21:12

YANBU, she’s your manager, not your therapist. If she was your therapist she’d be fucking incompetent for making you read it out loud.

That said, I’d be tempted to go my full length with this one. You could compete with colleagues each week to see what you could get away with, most outrageous wins.

3peassuit · 21/02/2022 21:13

Bloody hell. Is this getting to be a thing? It makes me very happy I took early retirement.

Brefugee · 21/02/2022 21:14

In Germany she'd be in the poop for sending it to your home address without asking if she could have your home address for a one off thing.

You could do like Harry and Ron in the divination classes and make up increasingly batshit entries? That's what I'd do

BogRollBOGOF · 21/02/2022 21:16

There's something about "gratitude" that grates on me, like it's quite a passive, subserviant outlook.
I prefer the word "appreciation"

I would not keep a gratitude journal. It's hard enough keeping up with my running log that I want to do!

I like the naff "air that I breathe" response Grin

whiteroseredrose · 21/02/2022 21:16

This is bonkers!!

Nadjathedoll · 21/02/2022 21:17

@GalaPie

Blimey, mine would be a revelation I'm grateful I only work here 25 hrs a week I'm grateful X is off sick today cos she's been really getting on my tits I'm grateful B has been promoted and I never have to see him again I'm grateful C has moved desks to be near the window, her BO was overpowering I'm grateful I'm on leave next week
Grin
NinaDefoe · 21/02/2022 21:18

Print out this list and glue it in your book with Pritt stick.

Enough to keep you going for weeks!
Number one:
Toilet paper: Just imagine what it was like without it! What would it be like without it now? It’s a scary thought.

meanttobehappy.com/49-unconventional-things-im-grateful-for-that-i-bet-are-not-on-your-list/

Millionairenow · 21/02/2022 21:18

Blimey, mine would be a revelation
I'm grateful I only work here 25 hrs a week
I'm grateful X is off sick today cos she's been really getting on my tits
I'm grateful B has been promoted and I never have to see him again
I'm grateful C has moved desks to be near the window, her BO was overpowering
I'm grateful I'm on leave next week

Swipe left for the next trending thread