“Piglet noticed that
even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of
Gratitude.”
For many of us, the holidays are a good time to think about gratitude.
Thanksgiving brings us the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family
around a table brimful of good food and cheer; the winter holidays that follow
underscore the many reasons we have to be grateful.
Sometimes, however, gratitude can be difficult to summon up.
We wake up with a headache, the coffee maker breaks, the bus is late, and the
dog pees on our shoes. Nothing, it seems, is working out and life is just a big
bowl of bummer.
A man was once talking with a friend, complaining about his
life. “Be grateful,” admonished his friend.
“But I’ve nothing—NOTHING—to be grateful for!” retorted the
man.
“Well, let me ask you this,” replied the friend. “Are you on
fire right now?”
Flummoxed, the man replied, “Well, of course not!”
“Well, start with that,” said the friend with a smile.
Even on the worst of days, we can always find something for
which we can be grateful. A great way to cultivate gratitude is to start a
daily gratitude list. Keep a notebook beside your bed and, every day when you
get up, write down a thing or two about which you’re grateful (pro tip: If you
can’t think of anything, just be grateful you’re not on fire). These can be
simple things like “I woke up this morning,” or “my bed is warm.” Gratitude
doesn’t have to be for huge wins or enormous benefits. The little things that
make life worth living are certainly worth our gratitude!
At the end of a week, take a moment to review your list.
There should be, if you’ve been diligent, a reasonably long list of things that
you’ve been grateful for during the course of your week. As you continue to
keep your gratitude list, refer to it from time to time—especially when you’re
tempted to think that you’ve nothing about which to be grateful!
How does gratitude play out in the Dojo? It’s pretty simple
when you think about it. If you’ll recall from our discussion
about the relationship between Kohai and Sempai, there is an underlying sense
of gratitude that should exist between both the eager student and the willing
teacher. The student is grateful for the lessons learned at the feet of a
masterful teacher; the teacher is grateful for the opportunity to hone her
skills and remain sharp so she can be the best teacher she can be.
On and off the mats, we can always find a reason to be
grateful. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely said, “Cultivate the habit of being
grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks
continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you
should include all things in your gratitude.”
Without gratitude, we cannot fully appreciate the people and
circumstances that have conspired on our behalf to bring us to where we are
today. Gratitude is foundational for a happy and fulfilling life, and it’s
equally important for the Martial Artist who wants to have a full and
meaningful practice.
