Karla’s Korner: Having an Attitude of Gratitude

On Being Thankful: Having an Attitude of Gratitude

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

Thanksgiving is this week and while it is important to recognize the day and give thanks for all that we have I believe it is equally important to have an attitude of gratitude all of the time. This week I shared a very meaningful conversation with a special lady about living a life of thanksgiving. She shared with me that her day had not been the best and that even though it was not the best of days it was still a day that she had been given to live so she thanked God for it. As we discussed the importance of being grateful for everything we concluded that continuous gratitude takes practice and a lot of work.

Zig Ziglar has been a leading motivational speaker for many years. My quotes folder is filled with his quotes; I refer to them often. Years ago, Ziglar created the popular phrase, “Have an attitude of gratitude.” He said “The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for.” Ziglar’s story impresses me because from the outside looking in it would not appear that his early life was anything but positive. His family was dirt poor and at the age of six his father died leaving his mother struggling to care for her 11 children. His mother insisted that her children be appreciative when someone did something for them; always give thanks was her instructions to them. Zig once told a friend that, “When we neglect to require our children to say `thank you’ when someone gives them a gift or does something for them, we raise ungrateful children who are highly unlikely to be content. Without gratitude, happiness is rare. With gratitude, the odds for happiness go up dramatically.”

Life for the Ziglar’s has been anything but perfect, yet they still find the ability to live a life of gratitude. Zig and Jean Ziglar had four children and without warning their oldest Suzan fell ill and died suddenly. At the funeral home Zig spent time consoling others; his strong Christian faith assured him that he’d see his daughter again. He shared with those in attendance “We have no regrets. She knew we loved her. We feel no regret.” At one of the toughest times in his life, he managed to find a reason to be grateful and share that with the people who had come to comfort him.

Life is never what we think it should be. Families are not perfect. Relationships fall apart; often not to be renewed. Heartache happens. Disappointment is a real factor and at the end of the day we find it difficult to be thankful. But just as my friend shared with me there is always something to be thankful for every day; even in the tough times. For her on that particular day where things were difficult for her physically she recognized that just having a day to live was worth the gratitude and having a friend to share it with was in her words “just great”. As we discussed the importance of gratitude we found ourselves discussing what it meant to be able to share those tough times with others. Sharing in our difficult times with those who are willing to listen, offer advice or just sit quietly is a real gift; something to be thankful for. My friend also noted that sometimes the tough stuff is a gift as well. Learning to deal with the not so good things in life teaches great life lessons. Losing someone we love, the loss of a job or an illness may appear not to be beneficial but we can learn important lessons, renewing our spirits and in some cases renew broken relationships during those troubling times. In tough times we learn to rely on ourselves in ways we didn’t know we could; we learn to persevere and overcome.

About a year ago I was struggling with a relationship and shared my feelings with a friend. He suggested that I make a list of the things I was thankful for in that particular relationship. I was certain that my list would not be very extensive; maybe a few things at best. However, after taking time away from the busyness of life (sitting in my Korner) I was able to peel away the layers of hurt and anger that had clouded my heart’s vision and see many things in that relationship that I had to be thankful for. The attitude of gratitude was like a warm soak in a hot tub that heals the aches and pains of sore muscles; it eased the pain in my heart and allowed me to be grateful.

This week as you celebrate Thanksgiving I encourage you to begin the practice of everyday thankfulness. Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to begin the practice of continuous gratitude. My guess is that in a year’s time you will be pleasantly surprised at just how grateful you are. In the words of motivational speaker/author Steve Maraboli “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love, then make that day count!”

In gratitude and peace,

Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

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