“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.”–Tecumseh
There is so much for which to be thankful, yet gratitude is often in short supply. In looking for inspiration, I am grateful to have come across the above quote. It provided a much needed reminder.
Gratefulness takes effort. It is an action that doesn’t always come naturally. As parents, how often do we have to ask our children, “Did you say ‘thank you’?”? How often do we have to remind ourselves to say “thank you”?
We often have to overcome a bit of inertia to say “thanks”. Once we do, however, it comes easier.
I am not speaking of the robotic, habitual “thank you”. I want to address—and practice—the purposeful, heart-felt, thank you that is spoken with the sincerest appreciation. I refer to the thanks given for the seemingly mundane. The “thank you” for what we take for granted. The “thank you” for the unwanted circumstance that gives us the opportunity to grow. The “thank you” for the pain and the difficulty that makes us stronger. And, of course, I refer to the “thank you” for the blessings in our lives.
I must whole-heartedly agree with Tecumseh. “If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.”
Like so many things, gratefulness is a choice. It may take some searching and creativity, but there is always much for which to be grateful. Once we start the list, though, there can be no stopping. Like opening the flood gates, so is the expression of gratefulness.
Take time to reflect on all that has been given to us. Be thankful. Carpe momento!