To be grateful, or to offer thanks, in the true sense of the word, is to be modest. It is to acknowledge that others have the power to benefit you, that your life is better because of their efforts.
"A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude"
A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude according to Elie Wiesel. Unfortunately, gratitude seems to be a lost art today. Many of us, especially students, complain. We forget that we already have more than what we need, and we fail to appreciate most of it. It's actually human nature to complain. However, it's important to give thanks with a grateful heart, to focus on what we have, not on what we don't have.
Why? Why should we be grateful for a homework? for a room to clean? for dishes to wash? for clothes to laundry? for a 7:30 AM class? for parents who keep telling you not to do this and that?
To most of us, these are terrible things to do; we complain when we're given a homework, we complain when we're told to clean our room, wash the dishes, do the laundry, wake up early, we complain when we're not allowed to go out or go home late at night... we complain at almost everything. Right?
To some people, however, they think differently. They think of life’s difficulties as something they can actually be thankful for because gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. As the saying goes, “Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings”. They're thankful for a homework because it helps them to learn more. They're thankful for a room to clean because not everyone has a place to live in; some even live in the streets. They're thankful for dishes to wash because it only means that they have something to eat, unlike those children who starve in the streets. They're thankful for waking up early for a class because not everyone has the privilege to go to school. They're thankful for their strict parents because not everyone has someone/parents to look after them.
Another example that we see in reality would be people (or us!) today who complain that they are not tall, slim, handsome or pretty enough, their job stinks, the weather is foul, their family demands are a chore...and they wish they were richer, fairer, more handsome, luckier.
Often instead of rejoicing in what we have, we yearn for something more, better, or different. We can’t be grateful because we are making comparisons with others. As a result, we become unhappy.
Can you now spot the difference between an ungrateful and a grateful heart and why is it important?
Just imagine when you're complaining: it's a bad day for you and your day is ruined. Awtsu! But if you are grateful for all positive things that you see around yourself, you will undoubtedly have a fulfilling and happy day. In fact, gratitude, I believe, is the best medicine for depression, self-pity and fear, as it dissolves all negative feelings.
"Gratitude dissolves negative feelings: anger and jealousy melt in its embrace, fear and defensiveness shrink."
So, let's stop the habit of complaining. Instead, let's be grateful for the people who love us, and appreciate the healthy life we have been given. Our mindset should be that of the wise man who penned, “I once cried when I had no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet”. Let's keep an attitude of gratitude for everything we have, and everything we get to do, even if it's a problem we're facing. If we're going through a tough time, we can still be grateful for the lessons we are learning, the strength we are gaining and the compassion we find for others going through a rough spell. Aja!
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