My Thank You Book - Free Download

Hello all! Hope you have a nice long Easter weekend :-) I admit I take a break (again!) from the fortune cookies series, but I've worked a lot during the weekend to prepare for you a new download which is...MY THANK YOU BOOK! :-)

Initially I prepared the e-book for my shop (which will be re-launched this coming summer... it's a lot of work, but exciting :-)) but then came to my thoughts that actually I can't wait for you to get a taste of my newest work! So here I was, thanks to the long weekend, creating the free version of MY THANK YOU BOOK for everyone to download and enjoy! I'm so excited about it.

This version is completely free! The 'purchase' version is more extensive, with lots of journaling samples and 20+ variations of printable art frames (in the free version you will find 2 sets of printable art frames as bonus gift), and available in 4 sizes (A4, letter, B5, and A5 - the free version is in A5 size). There will be several versions of designs as well, and you will be able to order customised journals (based on the available designs). I'm still preparing some samples of customised thank you books: I will help you add your own pictures, modify texts, etc. For your own use or for gifts, they are both perfect :-)

Anyway, you can preview or download the free MY THANK YOU BOOK here. I hope you enjoy it ;-)

XOXO Amreta

Open publication - Free publishing - More amreta

DOWNLOAD THE EBOOK HERE



Aw! For those reading this blog on mobile device...(like me from time to time :-)) I make the ebook text available below....

MY THANK YOU BOOK

IN EVERY SINGLE BOOK I read about living life fully, gratitude has always been mentioned as the very key to live joyfully. And the more I practice gratitude journaling, the happier and happier I feel every day.

Voila! The key is ‘practice’. It’s easy to just think or know that gratitude is the magic key to happy life but if you don’t practice it, and if you don’t mean it, then for sure it would just stay as a file in your memory...or a knowledge somewhere far far away in the sky.

As a crazy-about-journaling person I am, I found that gratitude journaling is a very effective way to express and record my ‘thank-you’s to life, for all the wonderful things that came my way. And after sometime, I love taking another peek and reading my old journal pages again and here are some lessons I got:

1. writing your thank-you’s in your journal is about practicing to notice things that work in your life, wonderful things that came your way, all the blessings you‘re showered with every day. And guess what, all of that makes you feel so good. And that’s the most important aspect of this journaling: it makes you feel good.

2.  and because you choose to notice the good things in your everyday life, guess what, they keep coming back! In fact, have you ever heard this quote: “energy flows to where attention goes?”  I think it’s so true. So, if you focus your attention to things you love, then ‘guaranteed’ chances are that you will only see, hear, feel and experience more of what you love. Because that’s where your attention is. Your brain will discard the rest. Wonderful fact, isn’t it?

3.  it also works with goals, intentions, and dreams. I love dreaming, and imagination is a very safe and magnificence ‘starting place’ ‘for all your dreams. Even for all great artists and innovators, every single work begins in their imaginations. I learned that, when combined with sincere gratitude, imagination would become powerful visualization and I’ve experienced so many moments where things just fell into places, making the best parts of my dreams, intentions, and goals come true, effortlessly. And of course, so beautifully!

In this book I’ll share with you what I’ve learned from practicing gratitude journaling - my current favorite! It’s actually a tweaked version of my old version of journaling (you can read about it in Amretasgraphics Blogzine issue 2) - where the ‘thank you’ list is only part (though I put it as the first part) of the whole journal. Now with My Thank You Book version of journaling, you will find “thank you’s” inserted in every part of the journal.

With time, you will find it easy (and fun!) to do the gratitude journaling. Start, and just do. You will get some tips from me, but there is no rule, and there is no right or wrong. Follow your heart, and follow what you love -> -> WHAT YOU LOVE = TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

“...that is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way” -- Doris Lessing


On the next pages you will find a guided journaling system that you can follow - but again, there no right or wrong in practicing this journaling, you can fill in all parts or just take what makes you FEEL GOOD (oh, I guess, indeed there is one rule, and this is it: what you write has to make you FEEL GOOD! :-))

But here’s a tip: all parts of the journaling will start with the word “THANK YOU” or “I AM GRATEFUL” or “I AM THANKFUL”... words that express how grateful you are, and then, you write things you love, place pictures or inspiration you love, create art you love... and I think - and I’m certain - naturally you will feel good and refreshed.

It is also very good to set intention and have your journal easy to reach whenever you are inspired and want to jot down lovely thoughts that come across your mind. Have it handy in your bag along with one or colorful pens that make you just happy to write. You can print out the pages from this journal, or if you’re like me (who tend to write and write and write and limitation of place makes me...well, limited - and here in this journal you should be free), you can use a notebook and printout only the headings of your choice, cut and paste them on to your notebook, on the place you want - no limit! :o)

Besides noticing the blessings and the things you love and you’re grateful of, this journaling also incorporates creative and intention and dream journalings. Everybody is creative but you need to appreciate your creativity in order for it to be natural part of your daily life. In this journal, you will be given assignment to express your thanks of the day through creative art, one thing a day if you want. In this space you can also collect things that make you feel grateful or that remind you how blessed you are, one thing a day. You decide (for me, collecting is also an act / expression of creativity). I collect leaves from trees or plants on the street, especially when I’m traveling. It makes me think of abundance that surrounds me. Some other days I made a small page of doodles a day. And when I felt so abundantly inspired, I just made a collage of leaves, teabags, printouts from internet and cutouts from magazines, etc. One day, when you feel like having a sucky day... go through pages of your creative thankful journals and you will be instantly reminded of the blessings you have received and also instantly you will feel better!!

From what I’ve learned from journaling, your intention can be so powerful when you start with Thank You + firm belief and trust that the best is already yours. Intention journal is a really safe place to jot down all that you have in mind, and even though during the day you find that not everything goes the way you’ve imagined, what you’ve poured out in the intention journal would help you go through all odds knowing that the universe has better ideas as well as its own special way to bring the best to you. Of course you’ll know it, you focus your attention to the bright side of everything that happens to you. Gratitude journaling will help you to look at and to look for the newly open doors instead of the closed windows.

Lately I love writing intention journal in the morning and so I call this section “HELLO, MORNING” - and start with (for example) “Thank you for a restful sleep and a lovely morning sun...”, I list things I feel love for that morning (remember: THINGS YOU LOVE = THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR) and after that, I start envisioning the great day I so love and am deeply grateful for. Always, start with “THANK YOU”, so your entry could look like this: “Thank you for a lovely walk to work passing by the field behind the big building where I can listen to the wind singing through fresh green grass and banana trees..”

I remember when I wrote those lines in my journal, probably the words sank into my brain, it helped me to be mindful so when I walked through the open field that day, it seemed like my brain automatically scanned the sound of the wind singing through the grass and the banana trees!

Another favorite of mine in this Thank You Book is the dream journaling, which I call “MY FASCINATING LIFE”. As I mentioned this is a tweaked version of my old journaling and I still love it so much. And like other tweaked parts, now the journal starts with “Thank You for...” and then write about all those things you really really want in your fascinating life. Yes, it takes one very courageous thing to do this: imagination.


Write the experience in details, and feel as if they already happened. Give thanks (and mean it) everywhere wherever possible to insert the word. It must make you feel superduper good after you finish writing.

A new section in my current journals (compared to the old version) is the one I call “BLESS THE BILLS” section :o) It’s a completely fun new way for me to see the bills and my expenses. Probably like many other people I used to feel not-so-good whevener I received bills or looked at my expenses. But now I decided to give thanks for the bills, for the money that I give away, it means that I have all the blessing to have and do things I want. So, instead of just piling the bills in the drawer, each night now... I make a collage out of them in the journal! (giggling just to think of it now :o)). I bless those bills and thank the universe for the good things I received and enjoy, and those bills are the proof!

And yes, there is also a very important part of the journaling where you actually have to allow the good things to happen to you, and it starts with feeling that you’re such a wonderful person that you deserve all those fantastic things in the world! :o)

In my blogzine, about my ‘old version’ of journaling, I explained about the game to play in this section I call “OH SO WONDERFUL ME”: you will have to notice the cool things you did during the day that makes you feel ‘wow’ and fabulous. The game stays the same in this new version of journaling, except that, you already know by now, you will start with “THANK YOU...”  Wonderful isn’t it, to be thankful for being the wonderful person that you are!


I had a lot of fun (and laughs) practicing this. It can be something you notice yourself, or even what your friends said about you. I didn’t really understand this until one day as I was sitting together with my friend Fina, on our computers figuring out how the javascript for my add-to-cart button worked. I had never edited a javascript before, so it was quite a challenge. After sometime of trial and error, guess what, finally I got it! The add-to-card button on my online used-book shop www.garagesalebuku.com did work the way I want it to! I felt so excited that spontaneously I just said “woooow I’m sooo goooood!” - Fina, jumping to see the screen on my computer, just looked at me and laughed. “You ARE good. You didn’t know that? Then now you know!” Then we laughed out loud together and almost like magically something shifted. I felt “WORTH IT” - and boy, didn’t it make me feel SO GOOD!

The following evening I noted down what I had just experienced, and again, I had this feel-good excitement and since then I LOVE playing this little game! It takes a little bit of practice since probably you’re not that used to it, but you will! It can be about something small and simple such as, you remember to say “Thank You” 10 times this morning, you call and say “I love you” to your mother and it makes her so very happy! You name it. I guarantee, after sometime, you will be amazed at how much wonderful things about you that you can list in your journal, and your self esteem will skyrocket. I find it so effective when you say it outloud too, with excitement, feel it, and note it down in your journal. You see, you’re a wonderful person so you deserve to receive all the wonderful things in the world. You’re SO GOOD at it!! :-)

Now you know you are a wonderful person, your presence in life is something to be grateful for. So let’s have a cool space in the journal to celebrate how marvelous you are today! Commit to do something good for yourself every day, give yourself a gift, you deserve it. Give thanks and write it down in the section “TODAY I TREAT MYSELF”

I really love this section, too. I find it a practice to respect, value, and love yourself. In any case, you are your own best friend. Isn’t that a good way to close your journal for today? :0)

Huge THANK YOU my friend for reading this book. In fact, I got giddy while writing these words :o) My life, like any other people’s, has to go through its ups and downs, but practicing this THANK YOU journaling has helped me tremendously in navigating both the calm sea and the storm, and in getting back to the top of the mast again, by focusing on the blessings, abundance and the good things in everyday life. You see, my friends, in some points of your life, you must experience extraordinary things that are reserved specially for you by the Universe. Those experiences that are so perfect for you, because only you know the meaning. Don’t you realise, you are also blessed with unique gifts, the gifts that can’t be compared with other people’s, because these gifts have been specially designed for you.

I’m so glad and thankful for being given a chance to share some lessons I’ve learned through this e-book. If you find it useful, please pass on to your friends and share the love :-)

DOWNLOAD THE EBOOK AND THE JOURNALING SHEETS HERE

Like this ebook? Do share it with your friends and give them a graphic goodness treat using the share buttons on the post-footer below :o) sweet thanks!

{Amretasgraphics Blogzine Issue 02}

Hello again everybody!

Welcome to the second issue of Amretasgraphics Blogzine! :-))

Open publication - Free publishing - More prints

The downloadable pdf file is available on issuu.com.

As mentioned in the blogzine, below are the blog backgrounds and desktop wallpapers - based on my Decoflora webset. Unfortunately the instruction for installing the blog background is not yet ready and I will include it in the next blogzine. So, stay tune!


2 columns blog backgrounds






3 columns blog backgrounds






1280 x 1024 px desktop wallpapers








1280 x 800 px desktop wallpapers








1024 x 768 px desktop wallpapers

[.more.about.journaling.]

This should have been posted right after my earlier post about end-of-year journaling, while also working on the graphics, I have always found that journaling is just so much fun. It’s like getting to know yourself in the journey, know what inspires you in the daily life, and since I incorporate creative journaling I’m sometimes amazed by the hidden talents I discovered along the way… talk about self esteem!

My journaling style, like everybody else’s I guess, continues to evolve day by day. Somehow, I have the tendency to repeat patterns, recreate pages and rewrite words that I like from previous journals. They make me feel good! So I have certainly the excuse for that :-)

So, when it comes to physical journals (with notebooks and collages inside), I would tear the pages I love from old journals and I would with no doubt destroy the remaining old stories. Ha! I confessed some old journals were filled with not-so-feel-good words, they were from the days I haven’t been yet aware of good-vibe creative journaling.



Now, I promised myself to, in daily basis:

- gather inspiration, notice good signs and coincidences and fascinating things around me ‘right now’ – and indeed, life is so fascinating. and be grateful.

This one is very interesting. and I think I will take the word ‘fascination’ as my theme for 2010. It occurred to me when one day I happened to be irritated by a situation, and instead of complaining, suddenly I just said to my friend that the situation was ‘fascinating’. As a consequence, my brain kind of automatically worked on some ways to find reasons why that particular situation was fascinating. It felt almost instantly lightened rather than stressful. So I know it works, hopefully I will be able to remember that all the time :-)

- write only ‘positive talk’ in my journal. this may mean writing one positive affirmation or interesting quote a day. with collage, cutouts of images from magazines, newspapers, or printouts from the internet. being grateful is the most positive talk of all!

- monitor the state of my spirit. list what happened before during the day / night and check those that boost my spirit and find a way to tweak the other situations. Pray-raining is currently my favorite that I learned from Jeannette Maw. It’s an enjoyable exercise to tell good stories, thus keeping your spirit high! be grateful.

- keep track of how I nourish and take care of my body. you are what you eat, they say. and I noticed I feel good when I eat well. I walk at least 1 hour a day (favorite exercise!), and while walking, listen to favorite pieces of music, walking meditation or audiobooks.

- write down my purchases, giveaways and things I receive during the day. they are signs of abundance. the very thing to be grateful for. so be grateful for them.

- find a unique theme, such as write one recipe a day, etc. I collect one or two leaves I found on the street a day (inspired by Linnaeus!). be grateful for each find.

- practice writing by re-writing interesting articles from magazine or lines from books. I’ve learned that my brain learns the fastest when my other senses take simultaneous supporting actions. I opt for articles from travel magazines. be grateful for finding this excellent way to learn.

- what else…oh yes, note the progress of a project. I think it’s a very famous advice to break down any big goal into small bits and take one step a day to tackle it. celebrate any progress, however small, with gratitude.

- remind myself that ‘when in doubt, just do it! we’ll learn along the way’ – and believe there’s always support from God, the Universe, you name it. be grateful.

Wow, isn’t journaling fascinating? And now I know I’m a big fan of creative, multi-media journaling too. I’m grateful for all those creative spirits who invented ways to teach us to live this fascinating life. We’re all fascinating work in progress. For that I’m grateful :-)



Favorite advice on journaling:

By Jill Badonsky the author of Awe-Manac, The Daily Dose of Wonder: "Love is a many splendored thing but, as your spell-check will tell you, “splendored” is not a word. And YOU can make up words too. Coffee is a many caffeinated thing, naps are a many enjoyabled thing, dark chocolate is a many essentialled thing, whatever. Moreover, also, and besides optional grammar is elective during the initial creative of processes."

[.how.to.create.a.powerful.morning.ritual.]

I read this on Christine Kane's newsletter and thought I had to re-post it on my blog!

See my friends, this blog is not only about graphics, but also about inspiration, journaling and feel-good things :-D

How to Create a Powerful Morning Ritual
by Christine Kane

It is said that your habits create your destiny.

I'd add that your habits also create your confidence, courage and even your creativity!

In other words, your daily choices, routines, and seemingly insignificant moments make all the difference in your results.

One of the best ways to generate great results is to create a morning ritual. A powerful morning ritual sets the tone for your entire day - and your entire year!

A ritual is personal. A ritual is creative. (Not reactive!) A ritual is what gets YOU on track to create your best day. (And subsequently, your best life!) It can be as simple as a 15-minute routine, or as intense as long-distance running. The important thing is that it becomes a HABIT.

My morning ritual combines a mixture of physical, mental and heart-centered activities to engage each of these human power centers!

Here are some ideas to help you create your own powerful morning ritual.

Hydrate First

Many Eastern health practitioners recommend chugging down at least a half-liter of filtered room-temperature water first thing. (Yes, before your coffee!)

Upon waking, your body has spent hours without hydration. Drinking pure water at this time triggers a series of physiological functions that keep your body super healthy. Some report that this one practice can actually heal many diseases. (I'm not a scientist – but I can attest to the amazing results!)

Get Moving

Exercise is called "The Number One Form of Preventive Medicine."

It is also a prescription for happiness and a cure for depression! Getting exercise first thing sets your day off right. You can do a simple stretching routine, yoga or an all-out heart-pounding hour at the gym. Pick something do-able and do it.

Meditate

Many people don't meditate because they find it intimidating. I say, start with just 5 minutes. Meditation connects you to your center, and to the deep silence that surpasses any drama that might be happening in the world of your personality. Don't worry about doing it right. Just allow yourself the time to BE.

Set Intention

"Intention rules the earth," says Oprah Winfrey.

It's true! Your intention is a powerful force to engage.

Remembering your intention puts you back on track. You become focused again.

Reflect for a moment on your Word of the Year. Read a goal you've written down for yourself. Remind yourself of a financial dream. (If you're one of my new students in Uplevel Your Business, read the intention you wrote down on the first day of the program!)

You don't have to know the HOW. You just need to set the intention so your inner GPS can stay on target!

Be Grateful

Before I get out of bed, I silently create a morning gratitude list. When I begin my day remembering my "gratitudes," (instead of my "anxieties") my heart fills with extreme joy and deep awareness. I then bring that energy into everything I do - and to everyone with whom I connect.

Use a Netty Pot

(This one's a little weird!)

For years, my acupuncturist told my husband and I to use a Netty Pot. We laughed at him. Then, in the face of acute sinus problems, my husband tried it and became a convert. He converted me.

A Netty Pot uses warm water and a special salt to cleanse your sinuses and clear your breathing. Google it, and let the idea sit with you for a while. (You might be a convert too!)

Eat Creative

Your choice of breakfast foods can set up your success with other meals as well. Start your day off in the healthiest way possible for you - and make it a ritual, not a chore.

Be Prepared: Create a Not-to-Do List

Everyone needs a "Not To Do" morning list.

Suggestions here include anything that brings up a "reactive" state: Turning on the local news. Checking email. Answering texts. Answering the phone.

Let these things wait until AFTER your ritual has been completed!

Your Assignment:

After reading this article, don't just think, "Wow. Those are some good ideas. I should try one or two."

Instead, deliberately create your morning ritual now. Take about 20 minutes to think about and write down what your ritual will be each morning. Start simple at first. Choose one or two items from this menu. Or come up with your own. Write out your Ritual in detail.

Begin first thing tomorrow morning, and let your habits create YOUR destiny starting now!



-----------------------------------------------------

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at http://www.christinekane.com/.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.

[.end.of.year.journaling.]

It's a very busy end of year for me. But at least, I can say, 2009 has been an interesting year. Tomorrow last day at work in 2009, then a long new year weekend. No I'm not going to a party. Probably some of you would prefer to hear that I'm back to creating graphics rather than about me partying hihi. Ups and downs of my life in 2009 has prevented me from having much time to sit in front of my laptop creating graphics. That sounds really baaaad, doesn't it. I always needed aloooot of time when drawing graphics, because it's been always full of fun - and rewarding - trials-and-errors ;-)

But I have one thing I'm really proud about..it's that despite the so-often-chaotic day-to-day of mine, I never gave up journaling. Sometimes only a few lines, sometimes a few pages. And I put here and there some collages from magazine cutouts. Just like any previous end-of-years, I would look at my journals again, tracking what's up and where life had taken and guided me, what has made me feel good, what has made me down. Lately I tend to write "current state of spirit:" at the beginning of each entry (describing what I feel at that time of writing) then under that line i would list anything what I did, what I read, what I ate, what I heard, etc, before that. Sometimes just by looking at the list I could instantly evaluate the process. After awhile I noticed that (for example) I would feel happier in the morning when I woke up early - or event what kind of pens that made my handwritings look better :-D

That, I have no doubt saying it now, is the kind of journal that I really like. Now that it's time to evaluate, I found it very helpful when it comes to making plans for 2010. Focus on what makes you feel good and happy. I can complain about too much work but I can focus instead on the fact that I have an exciting and rewarding job. That needs a constant practice :-)

Ah, last note, I also discovered it's so much fun creating 'impromptu' collages in the journal. Mostly my cutouts are from Country Living UK, old magazines from France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden - postcards, as well as printouts from the internet, images from blogs I like. By the way, I also learned it needs a constant practice...

See you next time with new graphics soon!