April 12, 2008
Gratitude- 5 things to be happy about right now
Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty PostI read an article in a magazine recently where Inside Edition host Deborah Norville talked about the power of gratitude. She has written a book, Thank You Power in which she talks about scientists discovering gratitude can cause decreased stress and increased energy.
She suggests making a habit of listing what you are grateful for…which can be trivial or monumental. Apparently students who kept a gratitude journal got sick less often, exercised more and were more optomistic than those who wrote about hassles and mundane events.
She believes there is always a blessing when something goes wrong. Her example… Missed the train? Now you have time to read the newspaper. “Gratitude makes you appreciate the small things so when the trials come, it’s easier to put them in perspective,” Norville says.
She also suggests you consider writing a thank you letter to someone who has been good to you. She likens writing a thank-you letter to throwing a pebble into a still pond and watching it ripple out.
Okay, I’m game. How about we each come up with 5 things we can be happy about right now…sound good?
Cindy’s list:
1. The trees are starting to bud
2. My hand is getting stronger every day
3. I have all day to write my new chapter
4. It’s my daughter’s birthday and we’re going to celebrate over breakfast
5. Our two dogs and one cat are all healthy and happy
Can’t wait to hear yours. 
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Shana Says:
1. It’s sunny and cool outside.
2. I’m going to see friends at an RWA meeting.
3. I love my husband (and he loves me).
4. My book can’t be as bad as I think it is.
5. It’s Saturday.
ladydawgfan Says:
1. Spring is FINALLY here.
2. I got to sleep in this morning.
3. I’m losing weight and it feel wonderful.
4. Shana’s books are always WONDERFUL to read.
5. There is still one more day left in the weekend.
Virginia H. Says:
1. The sun is shining and spring is here.
2. My son finally started college
3. My birthday is this month
4. My house is paid for.
5. Life is good right now.
Fedora Says:
Great post, Cindy! Thank you for reminding us!
1. We’re enjoying a gorgeously sunny day today!
2. My family’s healthy today–yay!
3. I just got a new book in the mail–yippee!
4. We’ve got a great place to live
5. We’re near friends and family–hooray!
And congrats, everyone, on all the terrific things to celebrate in life!
Shana Says:
Thanks, ladydawgfan!
Debra Guyette Says:
OK
1. My daughter is no longer throwing up all over everything.
2. I am going out to breakfast this morning.
3. I have this week off from school.
4. I have three wonderful girls and all but one like me right now.
5. I am happy to be alive.
Cindy Kirk Says:
:bananadance: I love seeing all these lists. C’mon there have to be more of you who are grateful for something???
Charles - The Success Secrets Guy Says:
One day I was teaching a weekend college course on business start-up. The elevator was broken, so I had to lug my dolley of 4 boxes, by hand, up three flights of stairs. I was outside, and it was a little hot and sunny, but not unbearably unpleasant. I began to complain and grumble about how the school should have the elevators working and so on and so forth. I was angry that I had to go through all of this trouble to get to the top of the stairs.
Then, just as I reached to the top of the stairs, a young man, a quadriplegic, in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the neck down, operating his chair with just the slight movements of his bent-to-the-side neck, saw me and with a big, beautiful smile said to me, “Nice day, isn’t it.” I was stunned with embarrassment. Here I was moaning and groaning with all of my faculties and in perfect health, and here is a young man paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair telling me how pleasant a day it was. From that life-changing moment to this day, I have never complained about any physical labor again. “Only by the grace of God there go I.”