Gratitude
This word “gratitude” seems foreign, so foreign, that
we can even suspect a person for showing “gratitude”
to us. We might begin to wonder what’s this person up
to next. This is a sad but true state of the world we
live in.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what
we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into
acceptance, Chaos into order, confusion into
clarity... Gratitude makes sense of our past, Brings
peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow." -
Melody Beattie
Let’s come back to the topic under discussion and so I
need to ask why aren't we more grateful?
I'm sure if you asked your neighbor or best friend if
he/she was a grateful person they would certainly say
yes. We like to think we practice gratitude often but
if you get real with yourself you might find out
otherwise. How many times have you been at the water
cooler and your colleague comes up complaining about
the boss or complaining about the guy who cut them off
that morning on the way to the office. Think about
YOUR conversations.
How many times do you tend to complain?
It might not be about big things but the little things
count too. What about the media? Seems a story cannot
really make headlines unless it carries an element of
conflict.
Why have we become so fascinated with problems?
Is life really that bad that we'd rather tell people
what is wrong versus what is right?
I sure hope not.
I believe that we have just become too wrapped up in
our responsibilities, our routines, and our daily
chores that we have subconsciously smothered our
natural ability to practice gratitude. Instead of
being upset that the guy cut you off on the way to
work and perhaps made you 5-minutes late... what about
being thankful that you are fortunate enough to have a
job, to be able to afford a car to get to work 5-
minutes late instead of taking the bus and sitting out
in the rain or cold waiting to get picked up.
Gratitude is not complicated but it does take a little
work. When you find yourself getting frustrated,
getting stressed or maybe even sharing your negative
feelings with someone... stop yourself and think
backwards. Think about the problem and find something
about it to be grateful for. After a while, you will
start to change your thought patterns.
I can recall an incident that happened several years
ago. The railways had invited the press to be a part
of a new inter-city express train that was being
inaugurated in the year 1975.
They were accorded a warm welcome, and were treated to
a sumptuous breakfast.
The journalists were accommodated in the saloon that
was attached to the train. While they were all
standing on the platform the guard blew his whistle,
the train hooted and scooted outside the platform.
The journalists who were there for the occasion were
all split. Some were inside the train in the saloon
along with the General Manager, where as the few who
were on the platform thought that the train would go a
very short distance and would come back to pick them
up. Sadly that didn’t happen and they were furious
with the Chief PRO. They insisted that he arrange a
separate van that would take them by road to the final
destination of the train that was about 280 kms away
and that they should reach that place before the
train arrived.
Under severe stress the CPRO arranged for a mini
luxury van, and packed the journalists off all on
their own, with absolutely not a single railway
official accompanying them.
No sooner that these people left one journalist
re-appeared saying that his baggage was on the train
and that all the others had left by the bus and that
he was stranded, just because he went to make an
urgent STD call.
The CPRO cried sorry saying he can’t do anything, but
assured the journalist that his baggage would be
retrieved and returned back to him safely.
The journalist had no choice.
He got mad,
let his frustration get the best of him and ruin his
day -
maybe even his week or to find something about the
situation to be grateful for.
He chose the later.
After about two hours of hitting the road the CPRO got
a call that the van which was carrying the journalists
hit a tree, and all except one of them survived, but
is badly injured. Witnesses, said that the van was
traveling at 70+ miles and hour on two balding tires
would have caused a blow out thus causing a wreck.
Hearing this news that was flashed on the radio the
journalist who was left out cried a huge sigh of
relief saying it was a blessing in disguise that he
missed the but and saying it was a blessing in
disguise, that the CPRO didn’t budge to call back the
bus to take him.
This person was awfully grateful to the CPRO all his
life.
That is just one example. As the old cliché goes
"there is always a silver lining to every cloud." It's
just up to you to see it.
-TSK. Raman
Do preserve yourself & others while evolving continuously...
Warm Regards
This word “gratitude” seems foreign, so foreign, that
we can even suspect a person for showing “gratitude”
to us. We might begin to wonder what’s this person up
to next. This is a sad but true state of the world we
live in.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what
we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into
acceptance, Chaos into order, confusion into
clarity... Gratitude makes sense of our past, Brings
peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow." -
Melody Beattie
Let’s come back to the topic under discussion and so I
need to ask why aren't we more grateful?
I'm sure if you asked your neighbor or best friend if
he/she was a grateful person they would certainly say
yes. We like to think we practice gratitude often but
if you get real with yourself you might find out
otherwise. How many times have you been at the water
cooler and your colleague comes up complaining about
the boss or complaining about the guy who cut them off
that morning on the way to the office. Think about
YOUR conversations.
How many times do you tend to complain?
It might not be about big things but the little things
count too. What about the media? Seems a story cannot
really make headlines unless it carries an element of
conflict.
Why have we become so fascinated with problems?
Is life really that bad that we'd rather tell people
what is wrong versus what is right?
I sure hope not.
I believe that we have just become too wrapped up in
our responsibilities, our routines, and our daily
chores that we have subconsciously smothered our
natural ability to practice gratitude. Instead of
being upset that the guy cut you off on the way to
work and perhaps made you 5-minutes late... what about
being thankful that you are fortunate enough to have a
job, to be able to afford a car to get to work 5-
minutes late instead of taking the bus and sitting out
in the rain or cold waiting to get picked up.
Gratitude is not complicated but it does take a little
work. When you find yourself getting frustrated,
getting stressed or maybe even sharing your negative
feelings with someone... stop yourself and think
backwards. Think about the problem and find something
about it to be grateful for. After a while, you will
start to change your thought patterns.
I can recall an incident that happened several years
ago. The railways had invited the press to be a part
of a new inter-city express train that was being
inaugurated in the year 1975.
They were accorded a warm welcome, and were treated to
a sumptuous breakfast.
The journalists were accommodated in the saloon that
was attached to the train. While they were all
standing on the platform the guard blew his whistle,
the train hooted and scooted outside the platform.
The journalists who were there for the occasion were
all split. Some were inside the train in the saloon
along with the General Manager, where as the few who
were on the platform thought that the train would go a
very short distance and would come back to pick them
up. Sadly that didn’t happen and they were furious
with the Chief PRO. They insisted that he arrange a
separate van that would take them by road to the final
destination of the train that was about 280 kms away
and that they should reach that place before the
train arrived.
Under severe stress the CPRO arranged for a mini
luxury van, and packed the journalists off all on
their own, with absolutely not a single railway
official accompanying them.
No sooner that these people left one journalist
re-appeared saying that his baggage was on the train
and that all the others had left by the bus and that
he was stranded, just because he went to make an
urgent STD call.
The CPRO cried sorry saying he can’t do anything, but
assured the journalist that his baggage would be
retrieved and returned back to him safely.
The journalist had no choice.
He got mad,
let his frustration get the best of him and ruin his
day -
maybe even his week or to find something about the
situation to be grateful for.
He chose the later.
After about two hours of hitting the road the CPRO got
a call that the van which was carrying the journalists
hit a tree, and all except one of them survived, but
is badly injured. Witnesses, said that the van was
traveling at 70+ miles and hour on two balding tires
would have caused a blow out thus causing a wreck.
Hearing this news that was flashed on the radio the
journalist who was left out cried a huge sigh of
relief saying it was a blessing in disguise that he
missed the but and saying it was a blessing in
disguise, that the CPRO didn’t budge to call back the
bus to take him.
This person was awfully grateful to the CPRO all his
life.
That is just one example. As the old cliché goes
"there is always a silver lining to every cloud." It's
just up to you to see it.
-TSK. Raman
Do preserve yourself & others while evolving continuously...
Warm Regards