To not keep a flipping ‘gratitude journal’

[Eastie77Returns]

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 everyone

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??!

[Millionairenow]

Sorry meant to say that reply is perfect!

[Redshoeblueshoe]

I am grateful for the bottle of vodka hidden in my desk drawer.
Is it too early to nominate this thread for classics ?

[LightSpeeds]

Blimey. Outrageous forcing you to say things out loud.

I'd be taking the opportunity for a complete piss take. Some great suggestions already...

[Looubylou]

I'd roll my eyes but do it anyway. Not worth being on the naughty list for. I hope she reads out every week too. If it is anxiety provoking, for whatever reason, then YANBU. What do you do?

[MMAMPWGHAP]

I am (and you should be) grateful that I completed that anger management course.

[FindingMeno]

I'd make it up, and let someone else challenge her.

[Theblacksheepandme]

I am grateful you said the journal wasn't compulsory.

[DukeofEarlGrey]

FFS. Grateful that I don't work for her!

[RightOnTheEdge]

I am grateful you said the journal wasn't compulsory.

[NinaDefoe]

If you are chosen, you could read out pages of things you are grateful for. For added effect you could have a little cry as you read them out.

Here are a few to get you started:

I am thankful for having air to breathe.
I am thankful for having water to drink.
I am thankful for having food to eat.
I am thankful for the feeling of the sun on my skin.
I am thankful for the smell of flowers and fresh-cut grass.
I am thankful for the people in my life who care about me.
I am thankful that I will get to live today and hopefully tomorrow too.
I am thankful for my health even though it may not be perfect.
I am thankful for the money that I have.
I am thankful for the things that I own.
I am thankful that my parents gave me this life.
​I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given.
​I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from my mistakes.
​I am thankful to be able to think my own thoughts.
​I am thankful for my body, which carries me through this life.
​I am thankful that I can communicate and help others understand me.
​I am thankful to be able to learn new things.
​I am thankful to have a place to sleep at night.
​I am thankful for time because it allows me to experience life.
​I am thankful for the simple life.

[DetailMouse]

Even if I was doing such a thing, there's no way I'd read it in front of colleagues. I can't believe the majority are playing along.

I'd be having a chat with the boss, just helpfully pointing out that this is not going to win her any friends. I've never found that does me any harm.

[Bullandbush]

I’m grateful for root beer and sasparilla, grits and yams and the good old jumbo jet that brought our new manager safely across the Atlantic. Amen. Alleluia

[Bullandbush]

Obviously said with a straight face.

[formalineadeline]

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

Please say this next time.

[Ellie56]

She sounds completely batshit but there are worse managers out there.

You could say, "I am grateful that my manager is not a complete arsehole."

[grapewine]

One, I wouldn't do it. I hate the idea. It's naff in my opinion. Two, I certainly wouldn't be reading anything aloud. Whatever I'm grateful for has zero to do with my colleagues.

I commend you for standing up. If she holds it against you, I would honestly escalate it.

[MissM2912]

I work in social care management and am just thinking this might be a nice idea. Distract from the shit shows my staff deal with every day 🙈

[Liondolphin]

There is loads of evidence that a routine practice of gratitude is really good for our well-being so great idea to share that idea with you all and give you the means to do it. Forcing you to do it, however, and then forcing you to read it out is completely out of order!

[ChaToilLeam]

She sounds batshit! What an intrusive thing to do!

Yet in your shoes, I wouldn’t be able to resist having a little fun with it…announce your gratitude for carbon atoms, the inventors of cup-a-soups, the Great Pumpkin… look up something random and ridiculous each day!

[MissMaple82]

I think its a great idea actually. But wrong to force people to read out what they have written. Those things are personal!

[RisingSunn]

This is really not on. Any type of journal is personal and you should not be expected to read it out to your colleagues! Totally unacceptable and weird! This is actually something I would escalate.

[SeaToSki]

Im just SO grateful that this is optional

[MoiraNotRuby]

"I'm grateful for my mum and my sister and my job, and my love-ly car and my kids fab art."

[delurkasaurus]

I'm grateful for mumsnet precisely because of these kinds of threads

[MissM2912]

It depends on the work environment. I know my staff team would embrace it. They would make it funny and light hearted.