A poem on the practice of gratitude in daily life...
An attitude of gratitude is the central point that splits longitude and latitude in each of our lives.
Being grateful for what we have - instead of getting mad about what we don't - or being hateful because someone negates our opinion - or simply debates us for what we believe, makes it difficult to conceive, and even makes us want to leave those types of people behind.
So, I propose instead that we are grateful for the difficult moments since they let us know we're alive.
They allow us to define ourselves however we align with our own thoughts and beliefs.
They bequeath us to ourselves as we delve further into our own capabilities and discover the true mobility of our minds, our actions, and all the other fractions in each of our lives.
Gratitude lets us know we're ALIVE.
When I practice gratitude for my possessions, it removes the obsession and promotes a positive impression in my day.
When I practice gratitude for the people in my life, the positivity in each connection is abundant, it allows me to stifle negativity by simply practicing positivity and really makes me grateful for my life.
I wrote this poem on April 27th, 2020. It was part of my gratitude practice during the pandemic, and it allowed me to grow, regardless of what was to come...
There is something in which to be grateful in each scenario that occurs in life. Some may call it "looking on the bright side." Some may call it optimism. Some may say that it is a constant need to find good in each scenario.
Call it what you will, but gratitude has an extremely positive impact in a person's life when they choose to practice it often.
Let's say a good thing happens... our team wins the game, or we get a promotion at work... We tend to label these things "good." But we can take them further than just the simple enjoyment of the good things happening. We can be grateful for the team's effort that led to the win, or the camaraderie that team sports allow, or show gratitude to the coaching staff for their education and consistency to practice and the creative game plan that led to the game's success. We can even be grateful for the other team, because if it weren't for them, there would be no win to celebrate. When we get the job promotion, we can be grateful for our hard work and consistency paying off, or the boss's ability to recognize your work ethic. We can even be grateful for the founders of the company for giving all the employees an opportunity to do something they (hopefully) enjoy and the opportunity to provide for themselves and their family.
Now, let's flip it. Let's say something happens that we perceive as "bad." Maybe you're fired from a job. Or maybe your partner breaks up with you... can you still find gratitude for these types of scenarios? The loss of a job may give you more time to focus on something that you're more interested in, or maybe it gives you time to spend with friends or family or your partner. You can be grateful for the new beginning, for your ability to practice adaptability to change. If your partner ends the relationship, it is very likely to hurt emotionally... can you practice gratitude for the simple emotion that the occurrence causes? As in, the ability to feel the pain from the emotion? Gratitude for sensation of body and mind. Gratitude for the flaws that may have created the breakup in the first place. Or maybe it allows a sense of gratitude for the person on the other side that wasn't happy. You can practice being grateful because they're releasing you ultimately releases them.
In all scenarios, we can be grateful for the life lesson at the very least. Be grateful for the opportunity to learn. Be willing to apply the educational aspects gained in the future. Be grateful for those you love, and for those who love you. Be grateful for those you don't particularly care for, and those who may not care for you.
Gratitude works wonders.
But it must be practiced in repetition, just as any other behavior must be practiced in life.
Today, I am grateful for my creative mind. I am grateful for my daily rituals; meditation, journaling, yoga, and breathwork. I am grateful for therapy, and my therapist, Amy. I am grateful to have a partner that supports me. I am grateful to give and receive love. I am grateful for a body that has the ability to run. I am grateful for my active mind. I am grateful that you clicked on this blog. I am grateful to you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my interpretation of gratitude. And I am grateful for your interpretation of this text, as well.
What are you grateful for today? What are you grateful for in this moment?
Thanks for reading,
Patrick Messenger
@LouisvilleVeganRunner
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