When doing the breakfast dishes the other morning, I glanced up at the open shelves above my kitchen sink and smiled at the pretty stacks of bowls and plates that have collected there over the years. Given the events of the past week, it's not a surprise that I felt a tickle of appreciation that they're all still there, brightly colored and wobbly stacked, ready to hold a biscuit or a bowl of something hot.
Sometimes, I realized, its helpful to be grateful for what didn't happen.
So for the rest of the day I tried to remember to notice and appreciate all the things which had not happened. It was an interesting experiment. Of course, one could get carried away ("Wow, I'm so glad the refrigerator door didn't fall off when I slammed it just now !") but this idea of realizing how much we take for granted is a powerful thing to do, especially these days.
Here are a few that came up while getting ready for a dinner party last night:
Gratitude that a plague of pests did not land on the field where the onion that I was chopping grew.
Gratitude that I did not slice open my thumb on the dull knife that I haven't gotten around to sharpening.
Gratitude, for reasons I can't even begin to understand, to the refrigerator that did not fail me today . Gratitude, too, for the uncountable not-failings of the electricity and the electrical plant that runs my refrigerator and for the processing plant that did not malfunction and dirty the water coming from my tap.
Gratitude to the farmer who did not get sick and was able to feed the chicken that laid the egg I'm about to crack into this bowl which did not break when I tipped it into my hand from its place on a high shelf.
Gratitude that my dinner guests did not get sick, or have a car accident, or even just flake out and cancel at the last minute.
Gratitude to the bacteria that remained friendly in my homemade sauerkraut sitting on my counter (it nearly always does this, by the way.)
Gratitude that my foot did not slip on that piece of raw onion that fell on the floor, sending my head smack into the corner of the stove and me into a 15-year coma.
And so on. Pausing in the middle of our life to sum up our blessings is always a good thing. Counting them in this reverse manner is a great revealer of how much actually does go right and, like it or not, how exquisite (and capricious) the balance is that keeps us safe and alive.
Some of us will donate money to the Red Cross for Japan relief, or buy a special poster or hold a bake sale. Some of us will go to Japan to help with reconstruction, or study the ways of the natural world for a more safe and sustainable energy source. But all of us, no matter what our talent or intellect, can find a way to discover and express our gratitude for the things, too innumerable to count, that went right today.
Related: Weekend Meditation: Broken
(Image: Dana Velden)
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Gratitude for the post that made me remember that all we lost in last night's crazy storm was a fence. Didn't lose my family, my friends, my entire city/town/village and that I have the resources to rebuild the fence.
Gratitude for the fully stocked pantry, refrigerator & freezer that allows me to wake up after said storm and eat. And not just a half cup of rice, but a big bountiful breakfast.
Gratitude that my dogs don't seem at all curious to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
Gratitude that last night's wind gusts of 50 mph did not take down one of my trees and plant it on top of my quite old car that still runs.
Gratitude that I am warm and dry in my favorite blanket while there are so many out in the elements.
Gratitude that with all of my life's challenges, errors and near misses that I still have the heart, spirit and soul that can find heaps and heaps of reasons to be grateful.
PS...love your latte bowls with the fruit on them. Where did you find them? I am in love.
drhevrin: Thank you for your wonderful comment!
The bottom latte bowl came from a shop in Berkeley CA called Tail of the Yak, purchased around the holidays last year. They don't have a website but they're located on Ashby, just before College. Amazing place! The other bowls are from Paris, purchased about 8 years ago and they don't have fruit on them, just the red markings.
Grateful that I have a job that is giving me something that the others didn't. I could be 9 months + unemployed.
Gratitude for health, peace, love and all the minor complaints of everyday life which are actually just part of the perfection of the moment...
George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life) had it right.
Absofrigginlutely!
I'm grateful that I didn't choose to keep my head in the sand as I normally would! I chose to follow Suze Orman's 8-month-emergency-fund plan plan about a year ago and so the day I was laid off from my job I came home and prepaid all my major bills for the coming year - something that made me feel more secure - and I'm less worried about being unemployed for a prolonged period now (I'm 3 months into it and so far I'm enjoying myself and making some amazing contacts).
I'm grateful my roof is holding, given the alternative, and that I was able to donate to human & animal rescue relief in Japan.
I'm grateful I didn't establish my cold pantry BEFORE the refrigerator passed away. Now, when the new one arrives it'll be a joy shopping and preparing food without worry.
As an entrenched worrier, I find this really interesting - I usually worry beforehand, and then dismiss the worrying when the thing (almost inevitably) never happens. But this approach gives a positive approach to it, and might even help to worry less, or feel better for (well, despite) the niggles. Always good to find something a little thought provoking - big thanks!
This type of exercise is called negative visualization and it's part of stoic philosophy.
As a physician who specializes in cancer imaging, every single minute of every single day I'm greatful I'm NOT in my department as a patient or a family member. I have a wonderful job that gives me the added benefit of staying grounded and reminded that all of us with our love ones and our health are truly blessed.