BEST OF TIMES, WORST OF TIMES: YOUR CALL

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Charles Dickens

Dickens opened his 1859 historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities, with a line describing Europe in the late 1700s, when prosperity and hope lived alongside hunger, fear, and unrest.

Although what happened in Dickens’s era is not identical to what we’re now witnessing in America, it mimics it in some ways – frustration, civil unrest, distrust, and downright uncertainty about the future are how many view things. Others see it as a time to prosper from technological breakthroughs, global connections, and rebuilding a country where humans and robots co-mingle to run the planet. Who knows, they might even change the name.

Here’s my take:  However you view it, anytime is a good time to practice Gratitude. Let me explain why.

A Gratitude practice doesn’t deny what you see - it changes the way you see it. It’s an investment of your time and thoughts in what’s happening right now in your immediate surroundings, and no one controls that investment but you – an investment that yields a calm and steady approach to whatever life throws at you and gives you a clearer sense of what really matters.

So how do I see what’s taking place on the national stage and keep it from interfering with my wellbeing? I count my blessings and let them shape my thinking. Last week I tried a different way, one I invite you to try.

I journal in my bedroom. After finishing my inspirational reading, I looked around the room. I listed everything I saw: furniture, bed covers, urns, wall hangings, angels, a space heater, coin counter, and my JDL Bluetooth speaker. Then I went back and listed the people connected to each item.

I started with my antique bedroom set and listed my mother, who helped me pick it out; my grandmother, whose set I adored as a kid; and the antique store owner I bought it from. I had to stop there because I had no idea who built it, but I blessed them anyway. They built it to last. It’s over a hundred years old and still in mint condition.  

I added the three urns that hold the ashes of two older brothers and a dear friend. I described what they each contributed to my life and the lasting impact they’ve had. Spirit never dies.  

I counted six angels, each a gift from someone special. I blessed them all, along with the people who made them.

I looked at my JBL speaker and thought about everyone involved in the joy of listening to music at home. I blessed them all, from the musicians to the technicians and manufacturers.

I looked over at the clock and thanked its maker and the clock itself for helping me keep track of time. At that point I put my journal down. My list had pointed me toward another task, starting dinner in the crock pot – which meant another set of people to thank - the list kept growing.

I hope you get my point – a Gratitude list is a powerful reminder that every day that you’re alive, there is too much to be thankful for to spend time worrying about things you can’t control.

Don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself. This week, put your Gratitude list to the test.

·         Look Around. Wherever you are, pause for a few minutes, then grab a pen and paper, and list everything in the room. Don’t forget to include the device you’re reading from.

·         Connect. Next to each item, list the person, place, or thing associated with it and how it came about.

·         Describe how each item makes you feel.

If you’re pressed for time, do a little each day. When you finish, ask yourself: “Am I living in the best of times or the worst of times?”

Here’s the small change takeaway: If you work on Gratitude, in the best and worst of times, Gratitude will work on you. Try it!

Be Grateful; Be Well!

Need help getting started on your Gratitude journey? Contact me at: smallchange@myrtlerussell.com

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