By Grace Maselli
Positivity. Appreciation. Arguably, it can all sound faddish. New Age-y. And definitely there are some days when staying connected to gratitude is more difficult than others. Still, the ability to take stock even when it hurts, the capacity to move toward a memory-muscle “build” for gratitude, brings value, or so many well-thought-of people believe. A regular practice—one where you conjure up a few thoughts, a small bundle of stuff your grateful for, can shift negative perceptions. Things like the ability to breath without mechanical assistance, the capacity to walk and talk, the means to pick up a phone and reach someone you trust, or be in the same room with someone you trust. A person who has your back.
It’s all a reminder to remember what’s working well in your life. To acknowledge that even when life throws it down, lobs a curve ball, gets your shorts in a twist, there can still be the space to recognize what’s okay. What’s more than okay. Maybe such a well-toned muscle has the power to stop the tempest in your teapot?
Here’s what philosopher and Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson had to say about it all: “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
