Gratitude

“Gratitude is a “belief and conviction that serves as a constant reminder of what you have been given, where you came from and whose shoulders you are standing on now. “

It is more than a mere “thank you” and far deeper than simple appreciation.

Gratitude is the humble acknowledgement of the extraordinary role that others have played in getting you to this point in your life.  A modest recognition of how their influence first got you started.  Then pushed you to keep going.  And continued to encourage you achieve whatever it was you desired.

When it comes right down to it, gratitude is a way of being. Thinking, speaking and acting in such a way as to honor how others intentionally gave you all they had to give, so you could achieve, excel and succeed. 

Gratis.  

Gratitude is about developing a mindset that is rooted in humility.  And coming to possess an “attitude of gratitude”.

So if you will, please indulge me for a moment. Take a look back, reflect and think of all you have been freely “given”, gifted or entrusted with by others throughout your life. Not so much in terms of things.  But rather the time. Talent. Wisdom. Support.  And love.  

Now, this exercise can be a staggering undertaking if you attempt an honest assessment of such a big picture.  So let’s just focus on one small aspect of our life. 

Something we share in common.

To be honest, where we are today isn’t so much just because of anything one of us did on our own.  Rather, it all pretty much came down to what others thought of us.  Saw within us.    Believed in each of us. Entrusted to us.

And yes, eventually,  expected every single one of us to do. 

Because those individuals had so much faith in each one of us, our transformation became possible.  They pushed each of us in precisely the right manner.  Challenged us to embrace the work, to make the commitment, aim our aspirations higher and achieve at a higher level than we ever imagined.  

They loved us enough to carry us on their shoulders.  

A vantage point that reveals a bigger picture.  To help insure that our present might match what they envisioned what our future would someday be.  Even now, their all encompassing and enduring support remains.  Taking us even farther and higher than ever dreamed. 

There is no way to repay their generosity.  To compensate them for what they gave us in terms of their time, their effort, their support and unyielding faith.  In a certain sense, we will forever be indebted to them.  And yet, this was never a transaction. 

It was always a “quid pro quo.” Simply a gift.  Freely given without condition.  Strings or attachments.   

So it is incumbent on each of us to acknowledge the extraordinary role that others have played in getting each of us to this point in our lives.  Recognize how their influence got us started.  How they pushed us  to keep going.  And continue to encourage all of us to achieve whatever it was we desired.

Embrace an attitude of gratitude.  

Clear some room on your shoulders.  

And help someone to share the view you were once given.  

Gratis.