It Bears Repeating

I have learned this lesson a thousand times.

BE GRATEFUL. Always be grateful.

I should create eyewear featuring a Heads-up display that will serve as a reminder for all waking hours. 

Gratefulness is a strong antidote to anxiety, depression, fear, worry, and even helplessness. I know this to be true. When incorporating this practice in daily life, my attitude improves - Every. Single. Time. It smooths out the edges, lightens the darkness, and physically changes my posture from downward leaning to upward lifting.

I’ve got a brain. I can remember recipes, phone numbers, and some chemical formulas. WHY then, do I continually struggle to be grateful? It’s like I’m purposely self-sabotaging my existence.

You’ll never guess, though. I am significantly better at this exercise now than formerly. During the day, I often notice things that generate gratitude. A short list follows, because it could take pages:

• Hot showers.
• Balance.
• Walking – at my age.
• Cool breezes.
• Smell of summer rain.
• Nature.
• Music.
• Enormous trees and fragrant, colorful flowers.
• A grandchild at the front door or showing up in the kitchen!
• Tomatoes.
• Memories.
• Technology – most of the time.
• Streaming entertainment.
• Cloud formations.
• Waking up in the morning, placing my feet on the floor. 
• Huh? 

Yeah, that last one, the one with the feet, needs further explanation. So here goes.

For several years, I used a bed placed directly on the floor. There were reasons for this situation, and not all were bad. Sleeping wasn’t usually a problem. But waking up? Well, that required a number of physical contortions to extricate myself from this flat-on-the-floor position. Things had to be arranged properly to make standing a possibility. All this was mandated well before the eyes were focused, the limbs were loosened up, and that first cup of coffee was yet to be brewed. 

With the arrival of the platform bed frame, all that changed dramatically. The alarm does what alarms do, and the morning ritual begins with dropping legs over the side and pausing. Except for the coffee prep, there’s time to wake up the body and comfortably rise when ready. I don’t think a day goes by without my first thought being, “Thank you. This is so nice!”

I am aware this sounds a little crazy, but it helps my day start right, while reminding me (even though I will fail many times throughout the day) to 

BE GRATEFUL. Always be grateful.

You are encouraged to find your own way to practice gratefulness.

If you fail, keep practicing. When you succeed, you will be a better person for those around you and for yourself.

30 Second Video - Simple Gratitude, YouTube

Attitude and Ice Cream

You’ve had them. Those days when it seems nothing goes right. Maybe it starts with the tossing and turning of a mainly sleepless night. It continues with the necessary cleanup created by a tipped-over first cup of coffee before the sun is up. And perhaps, the trend extends well into the day.

A quick trip to the grocery store for just a few essentials added stress as you noticed the prices. Since you’re already a little late, a decision is made to say yes to the self-checkout machine when it asks if you’d like some cash with that. Sure, twenty bucks should help with the day's minor expenses while saving a little time is an added benefit.

The car engine starts without a hitch, there’s no traffic to speak of, and you’re set to make it to that appointment on time after all. Things are looking up.

Pain And Suffering Are Not the Same

If you broke your arm, you’d be in pain. After receiving medical attention (pain relievers, cast, maybe a sling), you’d be in much less pain, but suffering might come next.

You’d suffer because the cast will get in the way of many things you take for granted. Your arm will itch, and satisfaction will be difficult to find. People will constantly be asking what happened. Sleeping positions become awkward and will require accommodation for this newly wrapped appendage. 

In this scenario, pain comes first, then suffering begins. All this comes to an end when the cast is removed. Pain and the inconvenience and challenges of suffering expire with the reinstatement of what we call normal.