Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Gratitude

Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.

I love this holiday because for one time every year, it forces us to do something we seldom pause to do...

Be grateful.

And gratitude, like most virtues, doesn't come easy.

It requires practice.

But there is an awesome side-effect to practicing gratitude:

Grateful people are happy people. 

Always.

Because I have yet to meet a happy complainer.

I think this is because true gratitude transcends current circumstances--which enables HAPPINESS to transcend circumstances.

The truly grateful person is grateful that their kids are healthy and love them even though they just lost their job.

The truly grateful person is grateful they are running the upcoming race even with a painful knee injury--because they know many athletes are competing from a wheelchair.

The truly grateful person still finds beauty in the amazing alpenglow sunrise despite the grim prognosis from the doctor.

I think grateful people have figured out what really matters.

And what doesn't.

What has lasting value.

And what doesn't.

I think distance training helps us figure this out.

To show us that gratitude, like happiness, is not a place.

But a choice.

And that it's up to us.

AMJ

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