Gratitude as in Attitude

[Frank]

I have just read Dan's blog about chocolate cake, creativity, and gratitude. And that blog inspired me to write a gratitude journal. I wondered where I could start this discussion. Then I wondered if it should be a discussion at all. My reasoning being that I would be the only person listing things that I am grateful for.
At this point,I will talk about Dan's essay. I wondered why Dan talked about chocolate cake and used a very tantalizing picture, too. Yes, I think I know - for bait and switch. It worked on me. I was looking for a recipe for that cake or where I could buy it but all I got was an essay about being grateful and its connection to creativity. I am grateful to Dan for writing that essay - it made me think. But I am not grateful for being teased with such a luscious cake and not getting any.

What does this have to do with gratitude, you might be asking yourself ? Well, I am getting to that - just be patient. Pretend, the above cake piece is the last piece of cake. It is your piece and the hostess is bringing it to you, but she slips and the cake plops onto the floor. Everyone else is eating cake and they collectively sigh 'too bad, this is great cake and now you won't get any.' What do you do ? Are you grateful now ?

If I was in that situation, I would not buy into the thought that I was not going to get any cake. I would pursue my creative spirit and figure out how to change the situation so that I could get some cake. Where there is a will, there is a way - the old saying goes and this old saying is totally true. There are at least ten different ways for me to get a piece of this cake, starting with the 5 second rule. (I could gather up my piece from the floor and eat it - who cares about the extra calories that animal hair and dust bring, I still get my cake).

So this brings me to my point - yes there is one - I am grateful for the world around me, which allows me to live. I accept the world as it is but I know I can change it if I so deem. I am grateful for my attitude of acceptance and I am grateful for my free will and I am grateful for the ability to change the world around me. I am grateful for the creative tools the world provides. My attitude is what dictates how I use them - so I am grateful for the gifts I am given but I will use them in my own manner. I am not bound by how others think I should be. I want to enjoy that cake and I will, even if it has fallen on the floor. But that is my way. I do not expect it to be yours.

And now my final point. I am still waiting for that cake of Dan's to come my way. You can ship it to me via fed ex or send me a ticket to come get get it. I am open to either way. I am grateful to Dan for giving it to me.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

My "Note From The Universe" (Mike Dooley) this morning ... I love this guy :)


Too often, Barbara Ann, the only difference between HAVE and HAVE NOT depends on whether or not the initial request was followed by a thank you, yee-haa, and action, rather than a question mark, timidity, and TV.

Don't ask. Give thanks. Bust a move.

Yo -
The Universe

[Dan Goodwin]

Frank, thanks for posting this, it's a great follow on from my original post. And I'm really sorry that technology is not yet advanced enough for me to somehow teleport chocolate cake to you via the internet. Maybe in a few years : )

People's comments above highlight a dilemma we have with CCS as it grows - the splintering of topics and repetition of similar discussions in different groups. Please leave your thoughts on this in a new blog post I've started:

Dear CCS Member, Your Community Needs You!

Thanks Frank, thanks everyone...

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

In the Goal Miner's Intenders Circle group Lin started a while back, we were meeting once a week and stating our Gratitudes and Intentions. I haven't been doing it for a while but I felt it helped when I was doing it.

[Frank]

Renewal looks good too - there is even a discussion called morning ritual there

[Frank]

I have found it ! A group called Celebration and Joy - we could be joyful and grateful ?

[Maureen]

Good point on the Trash discussion. How about "Go for the Goal?" (It could be a goal to write what we are grateful for each day).

[Frank]

no not the trash - too stinky - we would need Fiona to clean it up first

[Maureen]

Hmmm ... I will take a look at the different groups and think through that one. Isn't there a group called "Renewal?" I don't know what it is about, but I can check. Or, Taking the Trash out perhaps? I'll check it out ...

[Frank]

I think that would be a good idea that I could support too. But where would it logically be ?

[Maureen]

The 5-second-rule is a standard in our house (although my youngest calls it the "5-minute-rule," no matter how many times her sister tells her differently).

I enjoyed reading this, and I like your initial idea of creating a "Gratitude" discussion ... we could all post one or two or five (or whatever number we decide) things we are grateful for each day. This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time, but I usually forget by the time day is done. If it was a discussion here, I would be held accountable and reminded to list the things I'm grateful for each day.

What do you think?