‘Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow ‘ – Melody Beattie

Melody Beattie has had a number of big challenges in her life and has gone on to write many inspirational books.  One of her main points is the benefit that we could all gain from identifying things in our life that we are grateful for. 

This can be tricky.  Some of us get ill, lose our jobs, lose close friends and relatives.  Sometimes it’s really hard to find something to feel positive and upbeat about and certainly nothing to feel grateful about.  Our challenge is to find things in our day that give us joy.  As I write this it’s a bleak, grey day, it has rained practically all day and now its dark (again!) and I can feel my mood sinking, especially as it has been like this for several days (or so it seems!).  So the weather isn’t giving me much joy right now. 

And I’m tired, sleep seems to evade me – not much joy there. 

The garden is damp, well actually it’s a swamp (it is the Fens after all!) so there’s not much to bring a smile to my face there.   

And so I sink into a fug of despondency.  And some bright spark thinks that I should be grateful for something? 

OK – let me apply myself to this task.  I have just had a text from one of my Granddaughters – I am really grateful that she bothers to text me (we are hoping to find her new, Houdini styled, hamster!).  Someone in the gym this morning handed me my drink – a random act of kindness that I have enjoyed all day – I’m grateful for his attentiveness.  And someone listened to me this morning – really listened.  He stopped what he was doing and gave me his attention – that was a wonderful gift and I was grateful for that. 

My house is warm and my dog is pleased to see me.  I have food and drink easily available and I’m not hungry.  Soon I will take the dog out for a walk and I am fit enough and have enough energy to make sure I get my 10,000 steps today.   

Do you know, I feel better?  I have shifted from what is wrong to what is right.  I can’t control the weather or when it gets dark – but I can control how I react to these things.  My sleep will improve and it will get better more quickly if I don’t dwell on everything that is tricky in my life.  I do have some challenges right now – but I have friends and family who will help – I am grateful for that.   

Sometimes, when I am out with the dog I take pictures of twigs and leaves and whatever I can find – there is always something of beauty if I look for it – I’m always grateful for that.   

Being grateful takes effort until it becomes a habit.  Give it a try – see how your mood lifts – let joy in and be grateful.