Photography by Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash
Through their heartfelt stories, Women Create artists touch our community in so many ways, imparting inspiration, wisdom and food for thought.
Recently, in her story in the spring issue of WHERE Women Create and her February Maker Moments livestream appearance, San Diego-based illustrator and author Lori Mitchell provided us with an abundance of positive energy and a few simple — and potentially life-changing — rituals to integrate into our day to day.
In fact, many of Lori’s personal successes stem from her daily ritual of writing in a gratitude journal, a practice that she adopted at a time when she was feeling consumed by worry.
“The gratitude journal idea came up on Oprah,” Lori shares. “She said: ‘Just write down five things you’re grateful for every day and it will change your life.’ And I said: Sure … right. That’s not going to happen.”
Lori Mitchell; photography by Armando Silva
But it did. Lori opened her eyes to the small but beautiful things in the present all around her, things that she had not noticed when she was worrying about things in the unforeseen future.
Believe it or not, the power of the gratitude journal prompted Lori to send a thank-you note to Oprah and … ultimately led to an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” where Lori was invited to talk about her children’s book Different Just Like Me, inspired by her daughter April, who has the skin condition vitiligo.
Over the years, Lori has amassed many gratitude journals and encourages others to get in the habit of setting aside five minutes a day to jot down five things, big or small, they’re thankful for.
Here are two books Lori recommends to help you get started with a gratitude journal and manifest your goals:
The Simple Abundance Companion: Following Your Authentic Path to Something More by Sarah Ban Breathnach
Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want — And Getting It! by Henriette Anne Klauser
Lori Mitchell; Photography by Armando Silva
As for some of the little things Lori is grateful for …
Ikea meatballs
Unique facial features that are interesting to sketch
Clean-sheet night
A good cup of chai
Taking life and art as it comes
Photography by Armando Silva
For more on Lori’s gratitude journals and appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” check out her Maker Moments livestream.
