Gratitude

It’s almost here again and with it a double dose of happiness for me. They arrive around the same time every year and are both worth the wait–Fall has already arrived, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong, I like every season and almost every major holiday, but this duo has always been my favorite combination. Spring provides rebirth and an escape from Old Man Winter. Summer is a time to spend outside working in the yard/garden and, in “the old days,” playing whatever sport, you enjoyed. Even Winter has its attributes when a snowstorm allows us to hunker down inside and appreciate the comforting flames of a fireplace. But fall, nothing like it. I took a walk today and absolutely loved every step on a nice crisp morning. The leaves are falling and the scenery of trees on the horizon is breathtaking.

As for holidays, I understand the religious significance of Easter and Christmas too, but colored eggs and insane commercialism leave me a little empty. The 4th of July and Labor Day are nice, and I don’t really see the purpose of Halloween, but Thanksgiving is the day full of meaning to me. It’s funny, but the significance is right there in the word, “Thanksgiving.” If you think about it for even just a moment, it is a wonderful time to reflect on the subset of “gratitude” and it provides a significant departure point for this most revered day. Part of it is the turkey, the family gatherings and maybe even a football game or seven. But to me, it’s the absolute power and glory I find in taking a walk and reflecting on all that has happened to me in my almost 80 years (did I just type that?) and concentrating on the many blessings, large and small that have come my way. Sure, there have been some unfortunate times, bad days, and even a couple of years I’d rather forget, but overall, I’m still here and to state the obvious, still in love with my girlfriend of almost 60 years.

That brings me gratitude and just being grateful. We are lucky to have what we have and at the same time work to not let envy or guilt into the discussion. I don’t use Facebook. But I’m told you can go there and read a litany of those who have much more than you do. Or you can get melancholy and beat yourself up as there are so many that have less than you. The Chicago Tribune ran an editorial a few years back that suggested through researcher Michael McCullough that being grateful “kindles other positive emotions, so people walk around a little bit happier.”  I agree wholeheartedly.

There are the big things like waking up in the morning, living in the United States, or finding joy in your children, grandchildren, and goodness, even great grandchildren. But we must also concentrate on the little things that brighten our lives–one of your loved ones getting a hit or getting the lead in the school play. I used to relish popcorn thanks to PEG (my feeding tube) and a Diet Coke watching the Bears on a Sunday afternoon but that is no more. I loved chocolate and still enjoy sitting on the couch watching The African Queen with Diane for the 10th time.

Then there are the memories that for me include a dinner with famous economist John Kenneth Galbraith, driving legendary basketball coach John Wooden to the Galesburg airport with stary-eyed fledgling basketball stars Gordon III and Ryan sitting in the back seat or shaking hands with Cubs stellar relief pitcher Lee Smith marveling at his huge hands.

Pretty simple really, gratitude. Find time during the next couple of weeks to comprise your own list of things large, small and somewhere in between that demonstrate the power of gratitude in your own life. You won’t regret it.