There's been a lot of talk lately about gratitude -- recognizing what you already have not what you don't.
What is it about being grateful that makes this practice worthwhile? It's a focus on the present, on where you are and how far you have come. It's acknowledging all the good things in your life. Sometimes that is easy, often is not, on occasion it's down-right difficult.
Yesterday I heard of a friend whose son was in an awful accident. He will survive, even be okay but his life will be different going forward. How would you express gratitude during this time? From the outside, it's easier -- grateful that he survived, grateful for the outpouring of love and support, grateful for the fast response that saved him. From the inside, the family's perspective, would I be able to do it? I don't know.
But for now, each day I try to start with "my 10 gratitudes". First thing each morning, even before I open my eyes, think of 10 things I'm grateful for. Some days it's big things, some days it's almost silly. But that's okay. We can be grateful for silly. It makes me smile.
What you you grateful for today?