Give Thanks for All Things

Feeling Grateful in All Things

Later this month, Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. And on that day and the days leading up to it, we will receive all kinds of messages (TV shows, commercials, decorations, stories on social media) about the importance of gratitude. We’ll get the message—probably more than once—of how important it is to be grateful for our many blessings, and about how, even in dire circumstances, there is always something for which to feel grateful. That’s all good, of course, but a recent experience expanded my understanding of gratitude beyond myself.

Beyond Gratitude

A few weeks ago, I had an appointment at my pharmacy for my yearly flu shot. The line was long and slow moving, full of people waiting to pick up prescriptions. As I waited to get my shot, I observed the scene around me.

I heard people complain. On their phones to unseen others. To one another. And to the hapless pharmacy staff, whose every transaction seemed to be beset by some kind of problem.

Even though I was not privy to the details, I could tell the news was not good. One after another, people left the line irritated, muttering, and angry. The pharmacy staff took each customer in turn, remaining courteous and professional. Yet, I could sense their frustration wearing on them, leaving them discouraged and dispirited.

Gratitude is easier when we’re surrounded by loved ones and a table full of food. It’s more of a reach when we’re surrounded by cranky strangers and exhausted others who, despite their desire to help us, are frustrated by circumstances often beyond their control.

I realized I could send them a different kind of energy. Rather than just feeling sorry for them or even praying for them, I blessed them with thoughts of gratitude. As I considered their particular challenges—dealing with customers who are in pain or ill or charged with the care of someone who is, communicating with doctors’ offices and insurance companies, each one a little different in its policies and procedures—I appreciated their efforts.

Of course, focusing on gratitude might have been more of a challenge if I had not been feeling well or worried about a loved one at home, as many were. But even if I had been, feeling gratitude for those who were trying to help me would still have been worthwhile.

Giving Thanks for Others

Gratitude is easier when we’re surrounded by loved ones and a table full of food. It’s more of a reach when we’re surrounded by cranky strangers and exhausted others who, despite their desire to help us, are frustrated by circumstances often beyond their control.

Last year, I wrote about the importance of practicing gratitude during even our most unwelcome situations. But what about another’s unwelcome situation? Somebody else’s bad day? What about the person who’s hassling with their insurance company? The person who’s been standing in line for too long? The clerk who has had to remain polite and professional while dealing with customers’ understandably short tempers?

What if I can raise the collective vibration by infusing it with uplifting thoughts of gratitude for the efforts of store clerks? What if I can be grateful for the inherent wholeness of those gripped by illness?

Gratitude is too important a spiritual tool to be reserved for a single day or just ourselves. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be grateful for the blessings in our lives. Of course we should. We bless ourselves every time we pause to give thanks and really feel it. But what about blessing others, particularly those who might be needing it the most? How would the world change if we made it a habit to express gratitude for kindnesses and courtesies large and small? If instead of stopping at a perfunctory “thanks,” we took the time to really bless the efforts and energies of all kinds of people doing all kinds of good work?

We could keep the energy of Thanksgiving going all year. We could transform our interactions, relationships, and the world itself. Gratitude is the way.