It’s funny how the universe works.
I’ve been thinking about gratitude lately. There is so much anger, frustration and negativity these days that I find myself yearning for peace and calm and positive messaging. This led me to reflect on the year I participated in the “100 Days of Happiness” campaign. Through this contemplation I realized that happiness and gratitude are very closely linked. In fact, I’m not sure we can be truly happy if we aren’t thankful for what we have. And, we can’t be truly grateful if we aren’t satisfied with those things or those people in our lives.
Fast forward to yesterday.
As I was looking for my Mom and Dad’s wedding picture to post for their 61st anniversary, I came across several letters from my Dad. Among them was the one he wrote to family and friends giving thanks for the kindness bestowed on he and Mom after his first cancer surgery in early 1995. He had been recently diagnosed with colon cancer. Once healed from the surgery, he was facing a full year of chemotherapy and then several rounds of radiation.
As you can see in the photo, Dad was filled with gratitude.
Obviously, Dad was a man of deep faith. But whether you believe or not, it is still very powerful to read how Dad viewed his circumstance. Although it was most dire, he saw so much good. The paragraph at the top of the photo is particularly telling:
I found that being treated for cancer and having surgery, all during the season of Lent was very helpful to me. It made me count my blessings over and over again.
“It made me count my blessings over and over again.”
I think that one sentence is the key to gratitude and happiness. Even in the most challenging of times, find the good, focus on the good, give thanks for the good, and do it over and over again.
Today, I’m thankful that even in my sixtieth year and twelve years after his death, I’m still learning from my Dad.
