A Spiritual Journey - gartitude

01. Gratitude

By Angela

I watched The Secret, on DVD, about a year ago and one of the things that stood out as I read the book (and one or two others that followed) was the constant reference to taking time to say thank you. There have been periods in my life when things have seemed rather hopeless. In the past, before I lamented and complained, I would first say thanks for the things that were going right. Often, I would find so much to be thankful for, I would forget what I wanted to complain about.

The Secret recommends that you take time out each day to say thank you for all the things you are grateful for. When I started watching the DVD, I was at a low in my life. I figured I would give it a try, it could only help. So I gave it ago. Today I still try to find time each day to say thank you. I think it has helped me to realize all the things I do have, even on days when things truly seem bleak. I still sometimes complain after my thanks but more often now, I am filled with joy and happiness when I think of all my blessings.

So on this day, as we continue on our journey to a better us, let us take time each day to say thank you for all the blessings in our live. In this vein, I am thankful for my family and my friends. I am thankful for all the children, older people, men and women in my life. I am thankful for my dogs and my cat, my car and my home. I am thankful for heat, hot water, food and drink in my refrigerator, clothes and shoes in my closet, and the things of beauty in my home. I am thankful for all of my senses and my ability to walk and run, laugh and sing. And, while I am at it, I am thankful for fireworks, trees, flowers, sunny and rainy days, doctors, teachers, motivators .... I could go on endlessly. The point is, we all have so much to be grateful for, if we would just take a minute to say thank you, we might actually experience a glimpse of heaven in our lives.

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more. Brother David Steindl-Rast (1926 - present)