Gratitude

While having lunch with an old friend today, she touched on a subject that I believe could use more press.

GRATITUDE!

She was telling me about her sister and the falling out they had.  Her sister has had many challenges both physically and emotionally.  Although my friend is not in the best financial situation, she has always been generous in every way she possibly can.  She even had her sister move in with her, though her small apartment was cramped.

It wasn’t the health issues her sister had.  It wasn’t the constant attention she required that caused my friend to get angry.  It was simply the lack of gratitude.  She wasn’t looking for grand gestures, or even constantly being thanked.  She just wanted to feel appreciated.  AND, the more she gave, the more her sister took.

Shortly after our lunch I met a co-worker for coffee.  We talked about many things including work, family, and our various interests.  During our conversation on raising kids to be productive, caring adults she said, “I think you should write a blog on gratitude.  There is such a lack of appreciation for what we have.  Too many people only look at what they don’t have.”

I believe this is something to think about.  There is always someone with more.  There are always things we want that we don’t have.  And, it is certainly true that life isn’t always fair or just.

Having said all this, I do feel it is important to take time each day to be thankful for what we do have.  Taking a few minutes to appreciate the small things will give us more balance.  There are so many people in this world that go to bed hungry.  There are so many people in this world that go to bed cold.

Things can always be better and easier.  However, things can always be harder and worse.

This Land

The song says, “This land is your land, this land is our land.”  The words seem to have more meaning for me as time goes on.  Remembering the lessons of the legendary Johnny Appleseed who planted apple seeds after he would pluck a ripe apple from a tree has me thinking.

The concept is taking, but leaving for the next person.  Somewhere over the years I believe we have lost sight of the group and what is good for all, and we have spent more time concentrating on what is good for the individual.

I write a lot about being an individual.  I write a lot about taking care of us.  And, I am a strong believer in doing this.  I am equally a strong advocate of extending our hands and being there for our family, our friends, our community and the world we live in.

My grandparents had an extreme influence on me in developing a sense of pride in my heritage and the land they came to from what was referred to as the ‘old country’.

When I see people toss things out of their car onto the streets.  When I see people leave cans and bottles on a public wall.  When I see people finish something and not replace it for someone else.  IT MAKES ME NUTS!

Do you appreciate what was planted and left for you?  Do you plan on doing the same for the next generation?