"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
Thankfulness takes work. This is in part an answer to my inquiry in the last post. Perhaps it is not that I am ungrateful, just a bit lazy. I was even unsure of if I would write this post today because it takes energy and effort to do so, just as it does to be thankful. The simple reality is that although it would be great if (and sometimes this does happen) you are just a bystander as thankfulness possess you, but often this is not the case. More often than not, I believe that thankfulness is necessitated by critical thought; you need to allow thankfulness to take its hold of you and it is that much more likely to do so. On the contrary, if you think that you can be a bystander and yet still develop an attitude of thankfulness, than it is much less likely to happen.
Perhaps you may think that this all goes without saying, and perhaps it does and I do believe that it is implied in the previous posts. However, I would be utterly remiss if I went all this time without simply stating this fact, thankfulness requires critical thought. You need to think about what you are thankful for, critically. If you allow yourself to grow lazy and complacent in your thinking and even in your thankfulness, then thankfulness will not only not likely take effect, but it will likely not be as potent if it does. I think this is true of many things, but this is after all a meditation on thankfulness.
I arrived at this by thinking about all of the things that I am thankful for, as I often do, but especially now since it is Christmas time I felt like this would be a healthy exercise. But I also found within myself a proclivity to be lazy and not want to think critically about this. It then hit me just how much thought and energy and effort thankfulness actually requires. I think that in seasons when I do not find myself being very thankful or when i find that my thankfulness is not affecting me like I wish that it would, at least in terms of my actions, it is likely that I am not giving it the thought that it requires and would behoove me to do so. I need to delve deeper and concede that thankfulness takes much critical thought and effort.
This has been the sixth day meditating on thankfulness.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Meditations on Thankfulness: Day 5
"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
Am I thankful? This is a question that I have been wrestling with since I started this project. I mean, am I thankful, really? This whole project has depended on my own thankfulness, and I have talked about how I believe that thankfulness as an attitude leads one to act in such a way, so every time I act in a way that is not indicative of thankfulness, I find myself asking, 'Am I really thankful?' Or, I guess, why is the way I act not always consistent with someone who is thankful as an attitude? This question haunts me. The reason that today's meditation is more on my own disposition than really on thankfulness is because I want to be as transparent as possible with where I am at. The reason for that is so that you are better able to traverse what I say and understand with the biases that I am going into this project with. Understand, I wish that my actions were more consistent with my admitted disposition, but sometimes they do not line up. It is something that I am working on; after all, if my thankfulness does not motivate and guide my actions, what is the real point of it?
And that gets to the heart of where this haunting question has lead me to: if it does not motivate, what is the point of thankfulness? It is a nice idea, but just as with anything, it has to affect the type of person you are. It is akin to the word 'sorry'; it sounds nice, and as the recipient I appreciate that you are apologetic, but if you are truly sorrowful, it will affect your actions going forward. The same is true with thankfulness, and I think that actions that line up and back up words and attitudes validate and make genuine thankfulness. So, I do not think that it is a stretch to say that my thankfulness is not fully valid and partially not genuine. I accept that, and again, I am trying to change. I would encourage you, if this exercise at all allows you to better seek thankfulness and if you have more of a desire for it as an attitude, seek genuine thankfulness with actions that validate.
This has been the fourth day meditating on thankfulness.
Am I thankful? This is a question that I have been wrestling with since I started this project. I mean, am I thankful, really? This whole project has depended on my own thankfulness, and I have talked about how I believe that thankfulness as an attitude leads one to act in such a way, so every time I act in a way that is not indicative of thankfulness, I find myself asking, 'Am I really thankful?' Or, I guess, why is the way I act not always consistent with someone who is thankful as an attitude? This question haunts me. The reason that today's meditation is more on my own disposition than really on thankfulness is because I want to be as transparent as possible with where I am at. The reason for that is so that you are better able to traverse what I say and understand with the biases that I am going into this project with. Understand, I wish that my actions were more consistent with my admitted disposition, but sometimes they do not line up. It is something that I am working on; after all, if my thankfulness does not motivate and guide my actions, what is the real point of it?
And that gets to the heart of where this haunting question has lead me to: if it does not motivate, what is the point of thankfulness? It is a nice idea, but just as with anything, it has to affect the type of person you are. It is akin to the word 'sorry'; it sounds nice, and as the recipient I appreciate that you are apologetic, but if you are truly sorrowful, it will affect your actions going forward. The same is true with thankfulness, and I think that actions that line up and back up words and attitudes validate and make genuine thankfulness. So, I do not think that it is a stretch to say that my thankfulness is not fully valid and partially not genuine. I accept that, and again, I am trying to change. I would encourage you, if this exercise at all allows you to better seek thankfulness and if you have more of a desire for it as an attitude, seek genuine thankfulness with actions that validate.
This has been the fourth day meditating on thankfulness.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Meditations on Thankfulness: Day 4
"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
In being thankful for something, what is the right response? Is it to guard it, making sure that nothing happens to it, or is it to share it, hoping that others get tot enjoy this thing that you have so much thankfulness for? This is something that I have come to wonder about in this latest edition. I think that many people that I have had the pleasure of interacting with in my lifetime have taken the former approach (i. e. if you are thankful for your money, make sure to keep it safe and ensure that nothing happens to it), whereas I have taken the latter (i. e. if you are thankful for money, share it with others who have less so that they may have money also). This latter approach really comes out of the previous meditation, thinking on where thankfulness comes from. I noted that thankfulness comes from having a lack of something, at least for me, and I am sure that there are more places that thankfulness comes from that will continue to be unpacked as this project continues. Understanding that, it is easy to see why I take the latter view: knowing that my thanksgiving comes from previously having had a lack of something but now having an abundance, I want to share with others who have a lack ensuring that they get to enjoy the same benefits from whatever it is that I get to enjoy.
However, for you if thanksgiving comes from somewhere else (say for instance the pleasure that you get from whatever it is that you are thankful for), than your inclination might be to the former approach because you seek to preserve that pleasure for as long as possible. You do not share what you have, seeking to allow others to also enjoy the pleasure that you get, because you know that in doing so you will thereby receive less glory because there will be less of whatever it is. (This may sound cynical and you may be thinking that you would never actually prescribe to this mindset, but I would challenge and encourage you to think realistically and unbiased about yourself and ask whether or not this really is your mindset. It is far more common than you might realize.)
However, neither of these really addresses the question of what should an adequate response to thankfulness be. And to answer that, you have to answer what type of a person you desire to be. If you want to be a great person who changes the world and is selfless with what you have, then the only proper response to thankfulness has to be inevitably a desire to share your blessings and what you have with others so that they too get to partake. However, if you do not care about being a great, selfless individual, then why be selfless as a response to thanksgiving? I think that it is truly the best response, sharing and generosity but one which is not seen enough. Be generous understanding that you will likely get burned many times, but it is not your primary prerogative, at least it should not be, to protect yourself from being burned. It should be your primary prerogative to ensure that the world is a better place than it was before you were in it because you were in it.
This has been the fourth day meditating on thankfulness.
In being thankful for something, what is the right response? Is it to guard it, making sure that nothing happens to it, or is it to share it, hoping that others get tot enjoy this thing that you have so much thankfulness for? This is something that I have come to wonder about in this latest edition. I think that many people that I have had the pleasure of interacting with in my lifetime have taken the former approach (i. e. if you are thankful for your money, make sure to keep it safe and ensure that nothing happens to it), whereas I have taken the latter (i. e. if you are thankful for money, share it with others who have less so that they may have money also). This latter approach really comes out of the previous meditation, thinking on where thankfulness comes from. I noted that thankfulness comes from having a lack of something, at least for me, and I am sure that there are more places that thankfulness comes from that will continue to be unpacked as this project continues. Understanding that, it is easy to see why I take the latter view: knowing that my thanksgiving comes from previously having had a lack of something but now having an abundance, I want to share with others who have a lack ensuring that they get to enjoy the same benefits from whatever it is that I get to enjoy.
However, for you if thanksgiving comes from somewhere else (say for instance the pleasure that you get from whatever it is that you are thankful for), than your inclination might be to the former approach because you seek to preserve that pleasure for as long as possible. You do not share what you have, seeking to allow others to also enjoy the pleasure that you get, because you know that in doing so you will thereby receive less glory because there will be less of whatever it is. (This may sound cynical and you may be thinking that you would never actually prescribe to this mindset, but I would challenge and encourage you to think realistically and unbiased about yourself and ask whether or not this really is your mindset. It is far more common than you might realize.)
However, neither of these really addresses the question of what should an adequate response to thankfulness be. And to answer that, you have to answer what type of a person you desire to be. If you want to be a great person who changes the world and is selfless with what you have, then the only proper response to thankfulness has to be inevitably a desire to share your blessings and what you have with others so that they too get to partake. However, if you do not care about being a great, selfless individual, then why be selfless as a response to thanksgiving? I think that it is truly the best response, sharing and generosity but one which is not seen enough. Be generous understanding that you will likely get burned many times, but it is not your primary prerogative, at least it should not be, to protect yourself from being burned. It should be your primary prerogative to ensure that the world is a better place than it was before you were in it because you were in it.
This has been the fourth day meditating on thankfulness.
Friday, December 19, 2014
Meditations on Thankfulness: Day 3
"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
Where does thankfulness come from? That is the question that I find myself wrestling with today. I mean, if you find that you are not thankful, how are you able to make yourself so? Or is that even possible? Is it all a matter of genetics, the way you were raised, etc. and thus unable to be changed? I do not think that that is the case. However, if not, then what?
To best answer these questions, the logical first starting point is to ask myself why I am thankful. If I can get to the root of where my thankfulness comes from, then perhaps I will be able to discern how one who is not thankful can change and become so. But before I even begin this mental excursion, I must clarify something. I have been talking about thankfulness and its benefits and implicit in this is the notion that you should be thankful to receive the benefits therefrom. This is a tactic that I have been subconsciously using in order to try and convince you, the reader, to be thankful. But let us get something clear: while I think it is incredibly beneficial to have thankfulness as an attitude and while I think you should be thankful, I think that the reason that you should be should be entirely selfless. You should be thankful because having thankfulness as an attitude just makes the world a better place. Be selfless in your reason for thankfulness because thankfulness itself is selfless and I have already discussed how dependent thankfulness is on humility, which is a bedfellow with selflessness. I just felt the need to clarify why I think thankfulness should be adopted as an attitude.
All that being said, I do think that my thankfulness originates from a place of suffering and lack of. Whatever it is that I am thankful, I am thankful for because I used to not have it. For instance, I am thankful for loving relationships because there have been periods of my life where I have lacked these things. I am thankful for a job because I have lacked a job at times in my life. This is where particular thankfulness comes from, but I think that thankfulness as an attitude is a result of a conglomeration of these little thankfulnesses. I do not know how many of these thankfulnesses are required before you really have an attitude of thankfulness, but I do believe that that is where you come from. But this begs the question: if you are not thankful, how can you become so? This is, after all, the original question we set out to answer.
I find myself unequipped with that answer at this time. I guess I would say, you do not really value something unless you lack of it. Perhaps further meditations will help expound on this question, but for now I would just say that you need to lack something before you can really value and be thankful for it to the fullest.
This has been the third day meditating on thankfulness.
Where does thankfulness come from? That is the question that I find myself wrestling with today. I mean, if you find that you are not thankful, how are you able to make yourself so? Or is that even possible? Is it all a matter of genetics, the way you were raised, etc. and thus unable to be changed? I do not think that that is the case. However, if not, then what?
To best answer these questions, the logical first starting point is to ask myself why I am thankful. If I can get to the root of where my thankfulness comes from, then perhaps I will be able to discern how one who is not thankful can change and become so. But before I even begin this mental excursion, I must clarify something. I have been talking about thankfulness and its benefits and implicit in this is the notion that you should be thankful to receive the benefits therefrom. This is a tactic that I have been subconsciously using in order to try and convince you, the reader, to be thankful. But let us get something clear: while I think it is incredibly beneficial to have thankfulness as an attitude and while I think you should be thankful, I think that the reason that you should be should be entirely selfless. You should be thankful because having thankfulness as an attitude just makes the world a better place. Be selfless in your reason for thankfulness because thankfulness itself is selfless and I have already discussed how dependent thankfulness is on humility, which is a bedfellow with selflessness. I just felt the need to clarify why I think thankfulness should be adopted as an attitude.
All that being said, I do think that my thankfulness originates from a place of suffering and lack of. Whatever it is that I am thankful, I am thankful for because I used to not have it. For instance, I am thankful for loving relationships because there have been periods of my life where I have lacked these things. I am thankful for a job because I have lacked a job at times in my life. This is where particular thankfulness comes from, but I think that thankfulness as an attitude is a result of a conglomeration of these little thankfulnesses. I do not know how many of these thankfulnesses are required before you really have an attitude of thankfulness, but I do believe that that is where you come from. But this begs the question: if you are not thankful, how can you become so? This is, after all, the original question we set out to answer.
I find myself unequipped with that answer at this time. I guess I would say, you do not really value something unless you lack of it. Perhaps further meditations will help expound on this question, but for now I would just say that you need to lack something before you can really value and be thankful for it to the fullest.
This has been the third day meditating on thankfulness.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Meditations on Thankfulness: Day 2
"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
Day 2: Whether or not it should be this way, thankfulness is very relative. It is one of the reasons that thankfulness and humility are bedfellows. It is reality that if you think that you are entitled to the world, than you will not be thankful unless you have the world. One of the secrets to thankfulness as an attitude is to understand realistic expectations. Realize that you do not deserve much and you will in turn be much more thankful simply because there will be much more to be thankful for. When you relate yourself to those who have nothing than your eyes will be open to see the little things around you and rejoice in them, and I mean the really little things. For instance, cultivate a conscious understanding that many people the world over do not have access to flushing toilets, a blessing that has just become part of our lives, and you will be that much more thankful that you have flushing toilets. In order to really develop an attitude of thankfulness, you must cultivate practices that remove you from complacent, taking things from granted, whether those be relationships, blessings, what have you, and start to see things from a lower perspective.
What I am trying to say is that thankfulness for the small things rests on you believing that you do not deserve the world. I am thankful for cells that regenerate because there are so many people who are sick and much less healthy than I am. I am thankful for the money that I have because there are so many people who have so much less than me, even though I am not upper-class. Understand? Thankfulness needs humility in order to really thrive. Without humility thankfulness does not thrive and is not really genuine because it is always backed by an air of wanting more. You need to be content (not complacent) in order to be thankful.
I would encourage this generation, one of entitlement, to change to humility and be thankful. Relate yourself to those who have less, even nothing and you will find yourself thankful, and all of the benefits that come therefrom. Relate yourself to those who have more than you feeling like you are entitled and you will develop an attitude of bitterness and all of the defeats that come therefrom. The choice is yours.
This has been the second day meditating on thankfulness.
Day 2: Whether or not it should be this way, thankfulness is very relative. It is one of the reasons that thankfulness and humility are bedfellows. It is reality that if you think that you are entitled to the world, than you will not be thankful unless you have the world. One of the secrets to thankfulness as an attitude is to understand realistic expectations. Realize that you do not deserve much and you will in turn be much more thankful simply because there will be much more to be thankful for. When you relate yourself to those who have nothing than your eyes will be open to see the little things around you and rejoice in them, and I mean the really little things. For instance, cultivate a conscious understanding that many people the world over do not have access to flushing toilets, a blessing that has just become part of our lives, and you will be that much more thankful that you have flushing toilets. In order to really develop an attitude of thankfulness, you must cultivate practices that remove you from complacent, taking things from granted, whether those be relationships, blessings, what have you, and start to see things from a lower perspective.
What I am trying to say is that thankfulness for the small things rests on you believing that you do not deserve the world. I am thankful for cells that regenerate because there are so many people who are sick and much less healthy than I am. I am thankful for the money that I have because there are so many people who have so much less than me, even though I am not upper-class. Understand? Thankfulness needs humility in order to really thrive. Without humility thankfulness does not thrive and is not really genuine because it is always backed by an air of wanting more. You need to be content (not complacent) in order to be thankful.
I would encourage this generation, one of entitlement, to change to humility and be thankful. Relate yourself to those who have less, even nothing and you will find yourself thankful, and all of the benefits that come therefrom. Relate yourself to those who have more than you feeling like you are entitled and you will develop an attitude of bitterness and all of the defeats that come therefrom. The choice is yours.
This has been the second day meditating on thankfulness.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Meditations on Thankfulness: Day 1
"Thanksgiving enables us to be fully present in each of the moments of our lives and, at the same time, be fully present to the eternity which is crashing into those moments (for those who have eyes to see). We have the ability to resist the culture of despair by bearing witness to life and hope! Cynicism loosens its smugly fearful, icy grip, warmed by winds of thanks."
I am starting a new series (and ideally continuing it). I have felt very thankful lately but the reality is that it has not yet affected me as I wish. I am aware of my thankfulness, but it has not shaped me as a person quite yet, so I have decided to take some time everyday to spend time meditating on thankfulness. I am not sure yet what will come out of this, but I think that thankfulness is extremely beneficial in a variety of areas of life. So, that is the background.
Day 1: I think that thankfulness goes a lot deeper than most people realize. Not simply politely saying "Thank You" now and again, but having an honest attitude of thankfulness. Lately I have been very thankful just for the gift of being alive every day. I have not done anything to earn this life and the fact that I have new days each and every day is something that I am continually thankful for.
Thankfulness changes things. Someone who is thankful as an attitude complains less. It is quite simple, if you are thankful for something than that person is far less likely to complain about it; it is a blessing merely to possess it. Additionally, I think that thankfulness as an attitude is the antithesis to anger. If you are really truly thankful for something, than it is awfully hard to get angry about it. Really, try being really thankful for a certain relationship and see if you can still get easily angry at that person. I think that what I am trying to say is that thankfulness as an attitude makes you a better person. It may seem obvious to say such, but I try and give objective reasons for things. Hence, enjoy some objective reasons that thankfulness as an attitude makes you a better person: you generally complain less, it takes more to get angry (and I think you generally get angry at more correct things), and I would say finally that you live life with more purpose. Allow me to elaborate on this last point.
Suppose that you get a Christmas gift and it is something that you have really been wanted and you are so thankful for this, and I mean truly thankful. You will do your best to protect this item, be it a toy, clothes, etc. You do not take lightly this gift and you do not take it for granted. Or, if you get money as a gift, you are more lightly to spend it wisely and not foolishly. So, it is easy to see how when you take the attitude that your life is a gift and you are really thankful for it, you do not want to waste it; instead, you want to spend it wisely, understanding that you get but one life. I am so thankful for my life right now, and I do not want to waste it, I cannot. This is yet another way that thankfulness practically makes you a better person: you value life more and thus live it with more purpose; I think that it is even more difficult to grow complacent when you are really thankful for life. Seeing as you have so few days, it is vitally important to be thankful just for life because in that you are freed to find purpose.
I guess that I would just encourage you to just value your life, be thankful for just being alive, and watch as you practically become a better person, at least that is what I am trying to do.
This has been the first of my meditations on thankfulness.
I am starting a new series (and ideally continuing it). I have felt very thankful lately but the reality is that it has not yet affected me as I wish. I am aware of my thankfulness, but it has not shaped me as a person quite yet, so I have decided to take some time everyday to spend time meditating on thankfulness. I am not sure yet what will come out of this, but I think that thankfulness is extremely beneficial in a variety of areas of life. So, that is the background.
Day 1: I think that thankfulness goes a lot deeper than most people realize. Not simply politely saying "Thank You" now and again, but having an honest attitude of thankfulness. Lately I have been very thankful just for the gift of being alive every day. I have not done anything to earn this life and the fact that I have new days each and every day is something that I am continually thankful for.
Thankfulness changes things. Someone who is thankful as an attitude complains less. It is quite simple, if you are thankful for something than that person is far less likely to complain about it; it is a blessing merely to possess it. Additionally, I think that thankfulness as an attitude is the antithesis to anger. If you are really truly thankful for something, than it is awfully hard to get angry about it. Really, try being really thankful for a certain relationship and see if you can still get easily angry at that person. I think that what I am trying to say is that thankfulness as an attitude makes you a better person. It may seem obvious to say such, but I try and give objective reasons for things. Hence, enjoy some objective reasons that thankfulness as an attitude makes you a better person: you generally complain less, it takes more to get angry (and I think you generally get angry at more correct things), and I would say finally that you live life with more purpose. Allow me to elaborate on this last point.
Suppose that you get a Christmas gift and it is something that you have really been wanted and you are so thankful for this, and I mean truly thankful. You will do your best to protect this item, be it a toy, clothes, etc. You do not take lightly this gift and you do not take it for granted. Or, if you get money as a gift, you are more lightly to spend it wisely and not foolishly. So, it is easy to see how when you take the attitude that your life is a gift and you are really thankful for it, you do not want to waste it; instead, you want to spend it wisely, understanding that you get but one life. I am so thankful for my life right now, and I do not want to waste it, I cannot. This is yet another way that thankfulness practically makes you a better person: you value life more and thus live it with more purpose; I think that it is even more difficult to grow complacent when you are really thankful for life. Seeing as you have so few days, it is vitally important to be thankful just for life because in that you are freed to find purpose.
I guess that I would just encourage you to just value your life, be thankful for just being alive, and watch as you practically become a better person, at least that is what I am trying to do.
This has been the first of my meditations on thankfulness.
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