My Friend Gratitude

I’m not sure why self-pity or anger seem like the easier roads to walk. Perhaps they aren’t. It is entirely possible it’s easy for me because I’ve practiced running to their open arms most of my life. 

I have an embarrassing memory from my childhood to demonstrate my point. I was eight maybe nine years-old, and I can’t recall the particular offense. What I can recall, with vivid detail, is being so upset I wrote a letter to my parents, and let my tears fall onto the paper to punctuate my frustration and pain. (LOLOLOL What a scam.) Even then, at a young age, I felt sorry for myself. 

I’m kinda glad my parents didn’t feed my self-pity in those moments. Emotional intelligence wasn’t a thing in the 80′s, but neither was indulging every childish outburst. 

Five-ish years ago, I started my current engagement with Gratitude. I’m stoked to say what began as a method to combat anxiety and depression evolved into something exceeding my expectations. I now know Gratitude is about more than comparison or thankful excess. 

Gratitude is finding joy in a past relationship despite its end.

It’s celebrating the pure and good of every imperfect moment. 

It’s being present, stopping to notice the perfect of each moment. 

It’s also part knowing…it could always be worse. 

Ultimately, Gratitude is knowing life is gift, a wonderful gift. And our time in it is meant for the good and the pure, not hung up in failure and misery. Failure and misery are part of the deal, but they do not have to be “the deal.” Our hearts, minds, and bodies were meant to live and be alive- to drink every last ounce of joy from this Earth as possible. 

Without Gratitude, none of this is possible. 

“Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18