Gratitude Schmatitude! But It REALLY Works!

The entire time I was growing up, my dear mother’s message to me was to stop and be grateful for all the good all around me. Little did she know, I was an unusual child who truly did look for the good all around me. I was so grateful, it baffled me why she thought I wasn’t. Looking back, it was probably because she was trying to remind herself to be grateful.

We’ve all heard about keeping a Gratitude Journal, and listing 3 things you’re grateful for every night before going to bed. The benefits of the active practice of being grateful have slowly made it into our everyday lives. I never heard anyone besides my mom talking about gratitude when I was a child, or young adult. Then, I had an opportunity to speak to a therapist who happens to be a friend of a friend. We were on a delightful 4th of July kayak trip down The White River. She and I were enjoying our discussion of how people find happiness, stay happy, etc. “So, how do people in their 70’s and 80’s maintain happiness, if they ever were happy?”, I asked. Since the full thrust of their life is behind them, what do they have to look forward to, other than a possible visit from their kids, or maybe a late life cruise somewhere? At that moment, it seemed so scary for me to hear the truth that life pretty much will just suck when you’re that old. “Be grateful!”, she said. Wow!!! Was she channeling my mom, or what? That’s it?
She said that old timers who have a daily gratitude practice are much happier and fulfilled than those who sit around and micro analyze their daily routine.

I have to say that I was surprised, yet relieved, that the daily practice of gratitude is one of the secrets to feeling happier. That’s one positive habit already built into my daily routine, like brushing my teeth three times a day. Phew!!! I got that one covered. (Or, do I?)

You can’t necessarily overlook unexpected circumstances that make it impossible to see good in an unfortuitous predicament, no matter how hard you squint. For instance, if you’re sick and feeling lousy, it’s really hard to think clearly enough to pierce through and beyond the hard core of suffering or discomfort. If you’re not sure how you’re going to pay the bills, it’s nearly impossible to look around and see the beauty in anything until those bills get paid. But this is just why gratitude IS the winning ticket. It shifts perspective from a place of want, to a place of plenty. If you see the good that’s already a fact, the more quickly the mind shifts to look for good, rather than bad. It’s easy to look around and find the bad things going on. But it takes more stamina, perseverance, and grit to squint even harder and find the good all around us. Everybody knows that people who feel like their lives are full and good are just happier people.

Again, this is one of the most simple and easy to understand life lessons, yet we rebel against it as if standing up for disgruntled-ness will eventually prove to be a key to happiness. You just can’t get around some things. Again, Thanks Mom!

Here’s my list for today, for now: creativity, health, energy, kids, home, my spiritual journey, friends, workshops, compassion for others, my sense of empathy, happy childhood, my siblings, humor, a good laugh, a good cry, the feeling when you’ve had enough wallowing and you can stand up and say “That’s enough!” and move forward, nature, lessons my mom taught me, lessons my kids have taught me, art museums, people who work with their hands, great movies, cleverness, honesty, loyalty, etc. You get the gist.

All I will say is to give it a try for a week. I guarantee you’ll feel a little happier for it.

We’d love to have you join us and experience the good vibes for yourself. Here’s what’s on deck.

Check out our new upholstery workshops under the Classes/Studio Workshops tab above. We’ve gone ahead and scheduled our popular Spring and Summer 3 Day Bootcamps, Spool Ottoman Workshops, an Ethnic Rug Upholstered Bench Class,  How to Use Your Sewing Machine and Pillow Making 101, and our usual Wednesday Night Upholstery Club. And these  are just the upholstery courses, we’ve got more adults and kid workshops ready to schedule.  Remember, our workshop parties are a fun and creative alternative to other basic party themes. Party goers leave with a handmade item they can keep, or give as a gift. Just contact us for party options and costs.