The Simple Practice of Gratitude

Name 10 things you are grateful for right now. I’ll wait.

My dog Max

Fresh water

A comfortable chair to sit and write in

Blue sky

Enough to eat

A mind that sort of works

Roses blooming outside my window

Paint brushes waiting in the studio

The internet

Lots and lots of books

At first this practice seemed silly to me. I wasn’t sure I could even come up with 10 things some days. But it never failed. Usually by the time I got to number 5 the pump was primed and I could keep going all day. There is so much to be grateful for but we get caught up in what we don’t have rather than relishing what we do have. The problem with a mind that dwells on what is lacking is there is no end to what is lacking because there are an infinite amount of things we don’t have. But there is also an infinite amount of things we do have.

Short of meditation, this gratitude practice has been one of the most powerful tools I’ve found. For years I’ve been using it to get out of funks, victimhood (you want to spend as little time as possible in this hood), pits of sorrow. Like meditation, it’s not something you do for a while, get good at, and store on the shelf. It’s more like gas for the car. The mind is prone to negativity and needs to be set straight again and again. Best to refuel before it runs on empty. Making a gratitude list is like getting free gasoline whenever you want it-- Such a great deal!

We are entering the dark days of winter, the season of gratitude and generosity. Its no wonder gratitude and generosity are paired to the dark season where we celebrate the light. If we remember to make our hearts light the darkness can shine with its own unique beauty. Gratitude practice is one way to do this.

So I wish you all happy entry into the season of gratitude and generosity,