Gratitude
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You are legendary
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, or how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” ~Rumi In our celebrity driven culture, it’s easy to dismiss our own lives as unglamorous or uninteresting. But as the Sufi poet Rumi reminds us in today’s quote, comparing ourselves to others is a waste of precious time. And besides, do all those curated Instagram photos and People feature stories reveal the whole truth of “how things have gone” with others? So do yourself a favor today: Appreciate how far you’ve come. Think of all your gifts and advantages, no matter how small or large. After that, consider everything you’ve done to touch…
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All-inclusive gratitude
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson When we think about gratitude, we immediately think of our blessings, large and small. But as Emerson suggested, “all things” have made us who we are today. That includes setbacks and challenges such as health crises, relationship problems, or financial troubles. Nobody welcomes bad luck of any kind, yet we all have to deal with it at some point. Sometimes negative events can be catalysts or lessons for self-improvement, moving us toward…
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Goodwill and gratitude, all year long
“Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining. It bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn’t solve any problems.” ~Zig Ziglar Peace on earth, goodwill to all. Lately I’ve been wondering why these sentiments are limited to specific dates on the calendar. Last month, for instance, we all counted our blessings before slicing the Thanksgiving turkey, but resumed the habit of complaining about everything from corrupt politics to lousy football teams as soon as the good china was cleared from the table. As Christmas approaches, our hearts soften again. We mail greeting cards declaring our hope for humanity and the belief that goodness will triumph over evil. We…
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Happy Thanksgiving
“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ~John F. Kennedy While I’ve never been a huge fan of turkey with stuffing and gravy, or cranberry-anything, I’ve always appreciated the history and sentiment at the heart of our American Thanksgiving. (And I love pumpkin pie.) Unlike our brutally commercialized Christmas season, Thanksgiving doesn’t demand too much from us. It doesn’t require us to spend loads of cash or credit on gifts, nor does it push our festive energy to the limits. Regardless of our religious beliefs or church affiliation, Thanksgiving simply asks that we sit down together at a table…
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Thank you notes
““Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward “Does anyone still send thank-you notes, or is that an antiquated idea?” a reader asked. It’s a worthy question as we approach the season of gratitude and giving. Etiquette experts agree that a handwritten note of appreciation is “good form” any time you’ve received a gift, a special favor, or enjoyed someone’s hospitality. Likewise, in professional situations, including job interviews, sending a thank you note sets you apart from other clients and competitors. For a modern, updated spin on thank-you notes, check out this article on Emily Post Etiquette online. Yes,…
