Gratitude

Gratitude.

There are many ways to express it.

danke

merci

orbrigado

shukran

thank you

Gratitude is the gift that gives back.  It’s a selfishly unselfish act.

One of the chief benefits I’ve found from meditation is that it slows the world down enough to see the world a little sharper, hear the sounds a little clearer, appreciate the little things a tiny bit better.  In those moments when the world stops I’m grateful for much, but none more than the people closest to me.

My wife is a machine – earning degrees, coaching champions, running projects, organizing weddings…

She’s a machine with a bigger Grinch heart than anyone knows.  She makes me happy every day.

My dog is whatever he chooses to be.  Some days he’s human.  Some days he’s a lion.  Other days he’s a bear, a wolf, or a tin man.

My sister is a family maker.  She sows the bonds that engage the whole family.  She brought us a little man who seems bound for great things.

My brother is fun.  He brings a smile to your face with whatever he says.  You laugh because even when he’s grinning wide when he knows he’s wrong, he believes he’s right.

My team at work is top-notch.  They’re dedicated, customer-focused, and great at what they do.  They make my job easy.

My students are sharp.  They’ve made tremendous progress through consistent practice.  Their evolution is a pleasure to watch.

My friends, my co-workers, my extended family make my life rich. They each have their own wonderful peculiarities.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Gratitude is a selfishly, unselfish act because while our minds may fool us into believing we’re doing a good deed for others, we reap the benefits from recognizing the awe-inspiring miracles in our lives.

There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.

– Albert Einstein