Fancy playing a gratitude and reflection game?
It’s called ‘Rose, Rose, Thorn, Bud’ and it might just help you to meditate on the day you’ve had, count your blessings, settle your mind and get you excited about the future!
All you will need is a pen and a piece of paper.
Got those? Good, now at the end of the day write out the following:
- Rose: a highlight, a gratitude, something that went well, something positive, an effort that blossomed
- Rose: another highlight, a little win, or small slice of happiness from the day, a proud moment
- Thorn: something that didn’t go well, a struggle, a challenge, a fear, a pain point, a prickly moment
- Bud: something you’re looking forward to, something you are excited to knowing more
about or experiencing. This could be what gives you hope, inspiration or motivation, an opportunity that energises you or possibilities that need nurturing.
Complete this activity at the end of every day and it will help you appreciate what you have, reflect, destress and look forward.
Here’s an example from my day today:
ROSE – I received a number of ‘thank yous’ from people I met when I went litter-picking this morning.
ROSE – I managed to eat a meal without choking!
THORN – A car ran a red light as I was crossing the road and it just missed me!
BUD – I am looking forward to going to going to an Escape Room this week.
Rose, Rose, Thorn And Bud might sound like some fancy lawyers but this is an exercise that can be completed by yourself or with others and is a simple activity for identifying the good, the bad and the potential. See it as a way to unpack and communicate how you are feeling and so use it as a tool for wellbeing.
What’s your Rose, Rose, Thorn, Bud?