Cultivating Gratitude

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, And I fall asleep counting my blessings."nn-- Irving Berli Take a moment to think about this question: What are you thankful for? What came to mind? A person? A pet? A place? Good health? Home and family? Work? Friends? Peace of mind? Your spiritual path? Life itself? One of my favorite people in the world, a retired Episcopal minister, often shares a prayer at our weekly Rotary meeting that goes (something) like this:nnSome would eat but have no meat, Some have meat but cannot eat, We have meat and we can eat, And so the Lord be thanked. Whenever I hear this delightful statement of thanks, I think how simple true gratitude is. While striving to improve the quality of life is laudable, obsessive pursuit of a good thing can cause me to focus on what's missing instead of the abundance in which I live. So I've begun to practice what I call "cultivating gratitude." Each morning upon waking, I ask myself: What do I have to be grateful for today? Over the years, my list has grown longer. I usually start with the same one, two or three core items but also try to think of new things each day. I find more and more to be grateful for. nnThis practice helps counterbalance my tendency toward worry, doubt, and constant striving. Later, at different times during the day, I take a moment to remember a blessing or two – especially when life seems hard. I feel younger, stronger, and happier when I do this.nnWhat do you have to be grateful for today? If it's a person, why not tell them. You know, it takes about two minutes to write a thank you note. Go ahead – make somebody's day!