Gratitude journals began, like most national emergencies, with a pastel notebook and a suggestion from a morning talk show host.
“Three bullet points a day,” she said cheerfully. “Just write down what you’re grateful for. Oxygen. Almond milk. A coworker who doesn’t microwave fish. It’s simple.”
Within weeks, emergency rooms witnessed a spike in symptoms now clinically referred to as Acute Affirmation Syndrome (AAS). Patients presented with forced smiles, elevated eyebrows, and an inability to complete a sentence without saying, “I am so blessed.”
In advanced cases of AAS, people experienced Gratitude Vertigo, a condition in which the victim becomes dizzy from attempting to feel thankful for traffic.
Reports of Mental health complications followed. Chronic Positivity Fatigue. Selective Memory Inflation. A disturbing inability to acknowledge that something is, in fact, terrible.
One Johns Hopkins study suggested that prolonged exposure to gratitude journals may cause mild delusions of grandeur. Another linked gratitude journals to explosive Instagram posting.
Miracle claims from gratitude journalists have led many people to self-journal. Advocates insist that gratitude journals can lower blood pressure, regrow thinning hair, optimize gut flora, repair drywall, align chakras, reverse aging, improve Wi-Fi strength, and teach your dog to respect boundaries. The list rivals the therapeutic promises made for CBD, which has been rumored to cure everything short of parking tickets.
Celebrities, as usual, have fanned the flames. Gwyneth Paltrow declared in a recent interview that her gratitude journal “realigned her cellular narrative.”
A 1990s sitcom actor claimed it cured his lactose intolerance and helped him “manifest better parking.”
One influencer reported that after thirty days of gratitude journaling, her succulents began thriving emotionally.
The federal response to the gratitude journals threat has been measured but firm. Warning labels have begun appearing on notebooks sold at Staples: CAUTION: Excessive gratitude may result in emotional whiplash. Consult your physician before attempting sustained appreciation. Not recommended for individuals prone to toxic cheerfulness.
The instructions are precise. Do not exceed three gratitudes per day. Avoid compound gratitude statements. Never attempt gratitude while operating heavy machinery or doomscrolling.
There is something almost organic about gratitude journals. In a culture that monetizes outrage and marinates in grievance, a few quiet lines about a decent cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin feel harmless. Possibly useful even.
Just keep your dosage reasonable. This is America. Even optimism requires supervision.
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This article was originally posted over at Postcards From The Pug Bus