The Importance of Gratitude
Gratitude is something we forget about so often. We tend to take things for granted in life. Such simple things as electricity or a home where we can feel safe. Our simply the very fact that we are alive.
When I was cooking my lunch today a thought struck me. I was home alone, it was quiet in the apartment and I was standing by the stove. Using electricity. Making lunch. Having food. It's just wonderful isn't it?
These are things we never think so much about. Well sure, I'm hungry, I go to the kitchen, open the fridge, swear if my mom/spouse has forgotten to buy my favorite jelly or if my brother has eaten up my favorite chocolate cake. Well, these tings actually don't count in life. Instead of complaining, stop for a moment and be grateful that you have a fridge to open at all. And electricity that keeps it running.
Sometimes You Have to Experience Need
But not necessarily. Anyhow, it's true that it's easier to appreciate things more when you have already experienced their absence. I did it the hard way, too. About 1,5 years ago my ex broke up with me and suddenly I had nowhere to go. Luckily a dear friend offered that I could stay at his place until I find a job and an apartment on my own. Now the thing was that I really had to think twice what I needed to buy and what was unnecessary that time. I yearned for a place, a room of my own and some privacy. I yearned for being independent. I wanted an apartment bad and to be able to design and furnish it the way I wanted. And I wanted money of course.
It Can Get Worse
But anything in life can get worse and things did get worse when I thought nothing else could possibly turn out worse. My friend didn't have a job that time either, and he failed to pay his bills... which led to that the supplier turned off the electricity. Well....now imagine an apartment in the 21st century without electricity. Quite impossible isn't it? You sit at your desk or lie in bed typing an e-mail on your laptop and don't even think about the importance of electricity. You get annoyed when there's a blackout and you were just in the middle of an exciting chat that got interrupted.
Eventually I helped him to pay his bills so everything turned out well, but it was an experience I would never want in my life again. But it helped me to be more grateful for all the little things in life. (Being able to help him with money was also a miracle, as I had happened to get some money for something I hadn't expected to get paid for. But this is another story I may write about later on.)
Be Grateful for All You Already Have
The Law of Attraction says likes attract likes. If you are happy with what you already have and are grateful for it: great! Then you are on the right way to attract more of what you have. If you like what you have but you would like to have something else or better? Then it's also the same way to go: say thank you for what you already have (it's actually important to not only say the words but indeed feel grateful deep inside), create an image of what you want to have/be/do, ask for it, stay positive and believe that you can get it.
Right now I am sitting on my balcony with my two cats, and typing this article which will probably help a lot of people when they read it and maybe motivate and inspire them. I'm thankful for being alive and healthy, and even though I have some minor health issues, it could be worse so in fact I cannot complain. I'm happy that the sun is shining and the birds are singing and the snow is melting and that I felt motivated enough to write this article. It's great to be alive and be able to see, hear and feel the world. Thank you!
Written by Andi April 03, 2010
*Photo by Robert Aichinger
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