We recently watched a Ted Talk on gratitude versus happiness. Brother David Steindl-Rast argued that gratitude begets happiness, that happiness does not beget gratitude, as we often think. I have thought a lot about this in the last few days. As a culture, often we believe that if we have the right job, are able to buy more stuff, that we will finally be happy. Instead,what if we can be happy all along the journey by being grateful for what we do have now. Pining for things that we don’t have access leads to feeling disgruntled or frustrated. There have been times in my life that gratitude seems to come easy. For instance after traveling for a month:
- I was excited about hot water and a closet full of clothes to choose.
- I was thankful for dear friends that were just a phone call away.
- I was grateful for a grocery store and farmer’s market with lots of. healthy choices.
When you go without these things for a period of time, you become grateful for their existence again, no matter how simple. I can’t remember the last time I had a gratuitous thought about the temperature of my shower, or the gift of a friend in proximity. Yet there are many things in my life that I am grateful for, and I can’t remember the last time I thanked the universe for them so here are a few. I am thankful to have a job that I love. I am thankful to have an amazing partner. I am grateful for my friends that have always been there for me and challenged me. Even cultivated gratitude during sad times can be important. I know for myself, I have experienced this. When my father passed away suddenly, only months after I joined him in California, I was incredibly sad and wished I had more time with him. I know my own grief was helped by being grateful that I got to be there to help him in his final transition. I truly feel this was a gift unto itself. It was the final thing I got to do for my father, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity of presence. I make a pledge to try and be grateful for one thing daily, big or small, to cultivate my own happiness in the world. What are you grateful for today?
I think I saw the same Ted Talk and it really does resonate. Thanks for this reminder to appreciate what we have, and how fleeting our little joys can be!
When my kids were young we had some tapes they would listen to. The song was Gratitufe. We would sing along…”have a gratitude attitude”…. Was always a great reminder. Thanks for sharing Casey!