As kids, we are taught to use the golden words, please and thank you. If you happen to have good manners, then you might say thank you at least a couple times a day. I say good manners because unfortunately, many of us pass on even the simplest instance that calls for that bit of gratitude. For example, one would say thank you after having the door opened for you. Except, I can’t think of an accurate number of times I have opened the door for someone and watched them walk through it, either completely distracted or with an entitled expression. Still, not a thank you in sight. It can be frustrating, but it goes to show how self-involved people can be. People tend to be wrapped up in their own world, tied to time and the list of things that have to get done by the end of the day, in which saying thank you would be an excessive item in their agenda. We are so accustomed to our fast-paced lives that in the process we take everything for granted.
Most of us have a bad habit of waiting to show appreciation or gratitude until after the moment is gone, or worse… after their loved ones are gone. I have fallen guilty to this too. I have passed on opportunities where I should have paid closer attention to those I loved and moments that could have filled me with lasting memories. Instead, I chose to focus on my self-absorbed trials and use my energy on people which were only meant to be in my life short-term. I can’t change the past, but I can take advantage of the present by living in gratitude with each coming day.
Once I acknowledged gratitude to be a necessary practice in my vocabulary and behavior, it became easier to see why life is this beautiful set of circumstances. When I started adding gratitude to my days, life began to look differently. The way I feel about gratitude now goes beyond speaking two words. Being thankful has turned into an appreciation for every moment and everything those moments hold.
It’s like this…
I took a road trip some time ago. It was early enough to catch the morning sky. As I drove through the mountains, I was overwhelmed by their immensity. The way the sunlight kissed the tops, outlining them so beautifully against the sky gave me an overwhelming feeling of joy. And even though the clouds were gray, the sun once again highlighted them with its rays, struggling to seep through. It was as if the light was fighting to make its presence known. This was a moment where I felt bliss in what some people would have found insignificant. This was a humble moment of gratitude.
I contemplated on the idea of how we all share this sky and yet we don’t have the same experience seeing it. Most people would rather look at their phones than the clouds. For me, the turn of the day represents new beginnings. The morning is like a new slate, and the night closes another chapter. I feel as though I am being gifted another opportunity… to live with every rising sun. Now, I probably sound corny saying all this, but it’s kinda my new thing. I’m not sure how free flowing corny words sound coming from me, but I’ll keep going by saying this: Every day we have a choice to feel gratitude, in the prettiest of days or in the darkest of moments.
Now let me pose a different thought. Think about the last time you expressed genuine gratitude for someone. Maybe it was a parent, spouse, friend, coworker, etc. You might feel thankful towards this person because they have been supportive, understanding or loving in the most important events of your life… or the hardest. Imagine what those moments would have been like if not for them. What would you be like if not for them? How many times did we fail to appreciate someone until it was too late? As dark as this next point may sound, these were the words convincing me of the importance of gratitude.
“By simply acknowledging death, we can learn to be grateful.”
It’s true. If we came to know of the time we had left on earth, we would certainly turn to being more expressive of gratitude. Think about that. If you knew to only have a week, a day, or 30 minutes left of life, what would your approach to living be? Something tells me the news would call upon a vast moment of reflection followed by, hopefully, a connection to gratitude.
The days and the seasons change in the same way that people and events in our lives do. Every day is unpredictable, but it is also filled with possibilities. What is certain of life is that it doesn’t have guarantees. We only have what’s right in front of us. So why not be thankful and show appreciation for those seemingly insignificant moments. Because it doesn’t matter if I what brings you joy is a cloud, a song, a shade of lipstick or another person. It is the appreciation we feel in those joyful moments that brings us closer to feeling gratitude. The moments in which we smile, laugh or even cry are always a good reminder that we’re alive.
I am thankful for more than just having another day to live but in every way happy to be alive. Living allows me to feel gratitude in those instances where I see the sky, mountains, trees, or flowers and in their existence the beauty of life. I am thankful for the unfortunately sad moments as well. They remind me to look back at the things and the people that matter, particularly my family and friends who have been with me in my journey. As I continue to age, so do my relationships and the bond with those I love. How great is it to experience love out of genuine care from even one person, regardless of who they are? That certainly is deserving of gratitude.
This is just my point of view of course. I look up at the clouds and appreciate all they offer, whether it be rain or just something fluffy for me to look at. For others, the narrative may be different. Maybe the connection to gratitude is through milestones of health or financial stability, like buying your first home or finally running a mile. Whatever it may be, hold on to those happy moments, at least long enough to make you smile and say “thank you.”
Playlist of Gratitude
“Paper Airplanes” by Taylor Acorn
“Getting Good” by Lauren Alaina
“Gratitude” by Jason Mraz
“Mama Told Me” by Alex Newell
“Thank You for Loving Me” By Bon Jovi