St. Olaf’s Way ~ Summer 2019
We hear much about the benefits of gratitude. Psychology Today has an article boasting 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude. Gratitude in life has been said to change your brain chemistry, lower your blood pressure and “turn that frown upside down”. However, I know and you know that being told to be grateful when you are in the midst of stress, illness, depression, anxiety, abuse, traffic or with a screaming toddler, can be nothing but annoying.
Once, I tried to get my moody teenage son and my brilliant, but sometimes cynical, husband to settle down by trying the ABC’s of gratitude. The idea was easy and I was sure it would bring instant calm and supreme happiness to each of us on this tense afternoon. I explained to my son and husband, “You began with A and think of something you are thankful for that begins with the letter A then proceed through the alphabet, A, B, C, etc… After looking at me like I was crazy, my son said, “Okay, I’m in. Let’s do this.” Boy oh boy! I was so surprised he even stayed in the room! Now he was going to participate in the ABC’s of gratitude and our life would be lovely, happy and trouble free! We could be thankful for Apples, Babies, Candy … If I actually typed his ABC’s of gratitude in this post, Facebook would kick me offline. He was very proud to announce he was thankful for many parts of the female body, for different names of reproductive activities, and many other slightly pornogrpahic words and I phrases I didn’t even know that he knew! Well, what do you do when your son trumps your goody, goody plan to create a “Leave It To Beaver” like household? (yeah I know, I see what I just did there) You. Just. Die. Laughing! and then man oh man, are you grateful for your hilarious, outrageous and sweet son. This son who you could never in a million years have dreamed up, who keeps you always humble and laughing.
I have to admit gratitude did “flip the switch” on a crummy day. It just worked its magic in spite of me.
I am so thankful for the new pilgrims/friends I am about to meet and the pilgrims/friends I will see again! This is not a particularly pilgrim like post but I love this story so these are my thoughts for today. Tomorrow’s post: Bless Everyone You Meet
The Chocolate Drawer 