Gratitude

I wasn’t sure if I’d ever write about gratitude despite it being a popular topic in pretty much all circles. I’m by nature a very grateful person. The second I’m consciously awake, I say a quick prayer thanking God for a warm cozy bed and a safe place to sleep. When everything feels like it’s falling apart, I stop and express gratitude for something as small as clean drinking water. Even my signature on these letters is intentional because I’m always grateful anyone would take the time to read what’s on my heart.

But that said, I never feel like the practice of gratitude “shifts my mindset” or relieves my anxiety. No matter how many times I read that anxiety and gratitude cannot coexist and that gratitude stops anxiety, I raise my eyebrows. I have definitely been grateful and anxious at the same time. As I lay in bed feeling grateful for a comfy sleep, I’m also feeling anxious about everything else that needs to happen the second my feet hit the floor. 

Then my sister recently sent me an article. I’ll confess, I almost didn’t click it when I saw the headline, but if someone takes time and effort to show me something, I make the time to honor it. And she’s my sister — duh, of course I’m clicking it. 

It’s an article explaining the wonderful science of gratitude, but what stood out to me most was this:

“Gratitude helps people realize that they wouldn’t be where they are without the help of others.” 

It stopped me in my tracks because I’d never heard gratitude expressed that way. Gratitude is framed as this thing that is individual. What are you grateful for? 

But when I read that quote, it shows how gratitude is about connection. It’s actually not about us as individuals at all. It’s about all of us together. 

So when I express my gratitude as I’m lying in bed, I’m also expressing gratitude for all of the things that made this moment possible. The hands that made the bed, mattress, sheets, the companies that delivered these pieces, the job I have that afforded me the bed. The list can go on and on. And while my anxiety doesn’t instantly dissipate, the more I move through my morning and day, I can take in all of the people making my life what it is. 

This is a concept that’s used in mindful eating as well. As you chew each bite, you think of all of the people who helped bring you that food, down to the seed that was planted to either create the produce you’re eating or the produce to feed the animals. 

We don’t do this — living life — in a vacuum. We do it together, in one way or another. We depend on each other, on people who for the most part we won’t even know exist. 

So this week’s 1% Better challenge is to find gratitude in the ways we all connect. Combat the onslaught of negativity and pain by being grateful for one thing. And think about what went into making that thing part of your life. 

With gratitude,

Natalie