L'attitude de Gratitude

Dear readers, Happy Thanksgiving. Our virtual community is one of the many things for which I am giving thanks today. Even when we disagree, or perhaps especially when we disagree, our dialogue helps me understand that no matter the circumstances, an attitude of gratitude makes for a happy life.

Back when I started this blog, I could only dream of the day that I would feel mostly grateful -- instead of mostly confused and bitter -- for my childhood in the OALC. I can honestly say that day has come. The loss of one commmunity opened up so many others.

So I'll be lifting my glass of cheap "champagne" (Chateau St. Michelle Extra Dry de Costco) to you, my friends, around 6:30 pm PST.

To your health and happiness!

(Photo credit goes to my hubby, from the last time we opened the bubbly. The image on the TV is a clue to when that was.)

Gratitude

Growing up Laestadian, there seemed to be so much focus on the negative. "Don't do this." "Don't do that." "They are going to hell." "They aren't really saved."

Even though I've left Laestadianism behind, negativity still persists. Is it a Finnish thing? Is it a Laestadian thing? Is it just a "me" thing? In any event, it's a lot easier to be positive as a gnomelike persona on the internet than it is to be positive in real life. :-)

Anyway, I recently ran across an article by "positive psychologist" David Pollay about "building gratitude chains" that I thought was illuminating:

The challenge then is for us to find ways of becoming more grateful. One powerful way to increase your gratitude is by increasing the number of what I call “Gratitude Chains” in your life. Gratitude Chains are made up of links of appreciation for what contributes to the people and things we care about. Here are the four keys to building Gratitude Chains.

Cultivate Awareness
. . .
Cultivate Curiosity
. . .
Cultivate Memory
. . .
Link Your Gratitude Chains Together

For all the details, visit his site. I've started keeping a gratitude journal in an effort to become more aware of the things I am grateful for. Here are few entries I made recently:

• I am grateful for family time, like yesterday when we all went to see the holiday displays together
  
• I am grateful for my wife, she is such a good bargain shopper!
  
• I am grateful for my daughter, her kindness, generosity, and maturity.
  
• I am grateful for a warm house and cars that work on cold winter days.
  
• I am grateful for my job and for vacation time
  
• I am grateful for my wife, who makes me lunch, and is such a capable person.
  
• I am grateful for my child, who brings me joy seeing how much she enjoys her life.
  
• I am grateful for my mind and thoughts, which can dwell on interesting intellectual and spiritual pursuits
  
• I am grateful for a hot sauna
  
• I am grateful for my wife, who is such a good host and makes people feel welcome in our home.
  
• I am grateful that I have a job, when the news says that recession is looming.
  
• I am grateful for the Extoots blog, where I can post my thoughts about spiritual subjects
  
• I am grateful for my daughter, whose happiness and wonder reminds me of what is good in the world.
  
• I am grateful for my wife, who made me lunch of turkey salad today.
  
• I am grateful for the Extoots blog, since it reminds me that there are others who have gone through some of the stuff I have gone through.
  

-ttg