Gratitude is Thankfulness Acknowledged

My wife and I often tell each other how fortunate we are – besides having each other. We’re reasonably healthy. As we say, all our pains are age appropriate. We’ve a roof over our heads and don’t want for food. And our kids, yup still kids even though they are all over 55, are doing OK. No complaints, we’ve a lot to be thankful for.

We’ve decent health insurance that supplements Medicare. Our secondary insurer wants to keep us healthy, offers incentives for exercise programs etc. Periodically, they send helpful emails that I often skim and delete. Today there was one with articles about gratitude. I stopped to think, then read a paragraph. Hmm.

Then I read some more. One important take-away. Gratitude is being thankful taken to the next level. In a sense, being thankful is like giving yourself an “at-a-boy” or “at-a-girl.” It stays inhouse. Gratitude is taking thankfulness for a walk in the fresh air.

It just occurred to me. For several years I’ve been writing here about acts of loving kindness, even suggesting that picking up litter is an act of kindness that helps others. Years ago I learned that from my wife while out walking our dog. I’d mutter about the litter and she suggested carrying two bags: one for the poop, the other for the litter. “Pick up the litter on the way out and it won’t be there for you to curse on the way back.” It worked. It works even now without a dog.

But years before that there was a strange looking older gentleman, wearing a hardhat, who we’d occasionally see while we were walking in the park. He’d be busy picking up litter. For me, that’s probably how it all began. I haven’t seen him in ages. Best I can do now is to project my gratitude to him for showing me the way. [I also wrote a short story about this: “A Gentleman,” Nanny Magazine, October 2018.]

One aspect of gratitude is how it is compounded with a high rate of return when you let others know how much you appreciate what they do. And that can be for actions that are far removed from you. Perhaps they serve at a soup kitchen or at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or other volunteer work. You learn about it and next time you see them, let them know that’s great!  Simpler yet, smile when you meet people to let them know they’re unique and you value their presence. Or give a happy “Thank you” when a stranger holds open a door. Or when a driver lets you cross a street – nod and wave your appreciation. If you’re thankful – let them know it. A wave or a smile works!

Even thinking about others acts of kindness puts money in your bank of positivity, cancels out the debts of stress and aloneness.

Gratitude is thankfulness acknowledged!

My wife and I had a quiet Thanksgiving. It was just the two of us. Our kids are out of town and friends are scattered or involved with their own families. We stayed home and had a quiet dinner, just the two of us.

We plated our food in the kitchen and went into the dining room to eat. I was reaching for my fork, when my wife asked me to stop. “Before we eat, let’s say what we’re thankful for.”

Best Thanksgiving ever. And for her asking, I’ll be ever grateful!

And to all of you who read this and take it forward to thank others – thanks. That’s coins in our communal bank.

Best wishes for the Holiday Season.

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Ken was a Professor of Mathematics, a ceramicist, a welder, and an IBMer until downsized in 2000. He taught yoga until COVID-19 decided otherwise. He continues writing, living with his wife and beagle in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He enjoys chamber music and mysteries. He’s a homebrewer and runs whitewater rivers. Ken is a writer and his literary works can be found at https://www.kmkbooks.com/

He welcomes feedback on his articles and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.