I NEED CUTLERY FOR MY FOOD
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. — Marcus Cicero
Have you ever been to a restaurant where they bring all the food out at the same time? It’s usually one of those fancy ones. Everyone is seated, you’re hungry and all of a sudden, three or four servers arrive with everyone’s food. It smells amazing. You’re ready to eat. Except, you’re missing a few things, your cutlery.
It sucks and you have to wait.
This is what gratitude is like. Without gratitude, you’re stuck looking at your delicious food. You’re stuck imagining how good it is going to taste. You’re starving but you are stuck.
What in your life is missing gratitude? That is the question I’m pondering today? Actually, that’s what I’m trying to learn more about. What incredible meals am I missing out on simply because I do not have gratitude?
And then I ask myself, “how do I cultivate gratitude?”
I’m not an expert but from what I’ve learned, gratitude is a muscle. Just like I wake up and get on my bicycle to work out — gratitude is the same. It’s an intentional habit. It’s hard work. Just as I sweat on my bike, I sweat working out ways to acquire more gratitude.
In fact, just this morning I was thinking about people who have jobs but are not grateful for the job they have. For me, when I don’t have gratitude for my job, I immediately begin to exercise the “gratitude” muscle.
It may seem dumb but this is what I do.
I begin to look around at what I have in my house. I unlock gratitude verbally by thanking God for the ability to pay my rent. I thank God for the ability to pay for my car, food in the fridge, clothes, my family, my health. As soon as I begin to do this, it’s humbling. Gratitude is overwhelming.
Here is another habit I do daily to unlock gratitude.
Who — am I grateful for?
What — am I grateful for?
Where — am I grateful to be?
When — did something happen that I was grateful for?
Why — am I grateful?
Simple steps to activate gratefulness. Just like the quote above from Cicero, gratitude is the parent of all virtues. It’s the cutlery to the most amazing meals you are about to feast upon. It unlocks your hunger and desire for life.
This is what I’m learning. The challenge I leave you is above. O, and one more thing; reach out to someone you are grateful for. Send a text, make a phone call, let them know and I’m sure, you’re cutlery will be waiting for you.
Always be learning. a.
