All About Gratitude – www.allaboutgratitude.com

Can you be grateful and show your gratitude for something even if you don’t get credit for it? Being grateful for something or someone can be defined as doing something for someone without expecting to get anything in return. Can you do that? Have you done it?

I was driving back to NJ from Richmond one day and stopping off at a Waffle House on the way home. While I was there, I noticed that there was a table of Gentlemen in the Armed Service also eating. While I am not in support of war, I certainly am a supporter of our Service people who provide our freedom. They are willing to put their lives on the line so I can do the simple task of eating at Waffle House.

I started to think how grateful I was for them and wanted to show my appreciation. I called my waitress over and asked her how much their bill was. I asked her to let me pay for it and when they were finished to simply tell them that someone had already paid for them. With that, I paid their bill and mine and walked out.

Be Well.

I read this on the internet somewhere – I wish I could remember where it was…

Today, while I was driving my grandfather to his doctor’s appointment, I complained about hitting 2 red lights in a row. My grandfather chuckled and said, “You always complain about the red lights, but you never celebrate the green ones.”

Spend more time celebrating as opposed to complaining. Even if it is the little things. Actually… are there really such things as ‘little’ things?

Be Well.

Today’s post comes by a way of indirection. You see, I found a blog by Michael Gerber a while ago. I commented on one of his posting and I think that is when he signed up for the Quote of the Day. You can check out his blog at http://mgerber.blogspot.com/ - he is truly a remarkable person who lives with the right attitude!

Michael G. posted this story from a Michael Josephson article on his blog, and here I am re-posting it as well – hence the indirection comment earlier. Enjoy!

Michael Josephson is the founder of the Josephson Institute for Ethics and Character Counts. He is also one of my favorite commentators and his weekly newsletter is available for free. I strongly encourage everyone to subscribe.

Below is an excerpt from this week’s newsletter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

“When Ron gave his 7-year-old son Nick his first ball and bat, Nick wanted to play immediately. Ron said, “Son, baseball’s a serious game. You have to practice before you can play well.”

The boy went outside and began throwing the ball high in the air and swinging at it over and over. After an hour, he came in and said, “Dad, can we play now?”

Ron followed him outside and said, “Okay, show me what you can do.”

Nick tossed the ball above him, took a mighty swing, and missed. “Strike one,” he said enthusiastically.

He did it again and missed again. “Strike two!”

Ron said, “Concentrate, Son. Remember, three strikes and you’re out.”

The boy tossed the ball a third time and swung so hard he fell to the ground after hitting nothing but air. Ron winced, but Nick had a triumphant grin.

“Why are you happy?” Ron asked.

“‘Cause I’m great at pitching!”

You have to love Nick’s attitude. He may not turn out to be a good hitter, but he’s likely to lead a happy life. What’s more, he’ll probably bring warmth and cheer into the lives of others because an attitude like his is contagious.

Pessimists might think people like Nick delude themselves by looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Yet Nick’s world is just as he sees it. His decision to view himself as a successful pitcher instead of a bad hitter will not only make him happier, it may even contribute to his success.

It’s not easy, but if we develop the wisdom to treat frustrations and failures as empowering experiences and generate the strength to let go of self-destructive resentments and grudges, our lives will be filled with a lot more sunshine.

This is being repost with permission from Glen Hopkins.

Imagine for a moment one of those nights when you just can’t fall asleep and you have to get up early the next morning for a very important meeting of which you are the keynote speaker. Your alarm clock goes off early in the morning waking you from what little sleep you had. You stumble out of bed, have a quick shower, grab a coffee and some toast, and off you go to fight the traffic on the way to work.

Does that sound like the start of a terrible day? Most would answer ‘yes’. Few people however, would answer, ‘no’. These are the people, who are in my opinion blessed with a gift. A gift that determines how they view their life. These people live with ‘an attitude of gratitude’. For them, the situation described could be worse. Much worse. For example, think of the man who doesn’t have a bed, let alone a roof to over his head. When he is awoken from what little sleep he is able to get, it is by the rain falling on his cold body. He too stumbles to his feet and begins his journey to work in his bare feet. His work is in the field of survival. He searches though garbage cans for scraps of half-rotten food to eat and odd bits of clothes to keep him warm.

The purpose of this example is to illustrate that we all have so much to be grateful for. Even in times when it seems that nothing could be worse, there is always a reason to be grateful. And when you feel a sense of gratitude, you feel a sense of happiness and content. My challenge to you today is to learn to look for the good in every situation and live with ‘an attitude of gratitude’.

I assure you, if you were the fellow searching for food in garbage cans you too could find things to be grateful for. You just have to look hard enough and ‘open your eyes’ to what is around you. You have to focus on what’s good in your life, not what’s bad.

“I once was distraught because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.” – Unknown

Life works in mysterious ways. Time and time again there have been stories of people who are in a dire strait yet they are found helping others who are experiencing greater turmoil. This is because once you have helped someone in greater need than yourself, you always feel better. You feel better because you have helped another human being, and this forces you to change your mindset from focusing on your problems to focusing on their solutions.

Always focus on the solution, not the problem and live with an attitude of gratitude! Mother Teresa was a primary example of this phenomenon. Her entire life revolved around helping others in need. As a result she experienced a great deal of love and self-satisfaction in her life.

I challenge you now to take a moment to think of five things in your life that you are grateful for today. For example, your friends, your family, your job, your sense of smell, touch, sight, and sound. The list can go on and on. Imagine what your life would be like without these things. Write them down on a piece of paper and really think about the things you are grateful for. You will be amazed at how great you will feel!

Glen Hopkins
www.GlenHopkins.name

Let’s be honest about it: We do want things from other people.  We want other people’s good will and friendship.  We want their acceptance and recognition.

A businessman wants business from other people.  A husband and wife want love and affection from each other.  A parent wants obedience.  A child wants security and love.  A salesman wants other people to sign their names on a dotted line.  A boss wants loyalty, production, and cooperation.  An employee wants recognition and credit for what he does.

Every normal human being wants success and happiness.  Have you ever thought about the fact that other people play an important part in any real success or happiness that we enjoy?  It is largely through our dealings with other people that we become succe3ssful.  And regardless of what your definition of happiness may be, a little thought will convince you that your own happiness is largely dependent upon the sort of relationships you have with other people.

How To Have Confidence And Power In dealing With People – Les Giblin?