What Writers Say about Gratitude

At various times in the the past I've flirted with a gratitude journal. At one point, Kevin, Benjamin and I all had little notebooks we kept on the kitchen table and we were supposed to write three things a week. In the end, I think I ripped a few pages from mine, a couple from Ben's and none from Kevin's and put the notebooks back on the shelf.

The research on gratitude is astounding  Science and religion agree on this one: an attitude of gratitude is necessary for just about every kind of personal growth and essential for happiness. It's also the first step in feeling enough: feeling gratitude for life and all its offerings.

Since I tend to focus on the negative naturally, with myself and with others, reminding myself to practice gratitude is essential. I like that phraseology, actually, "gratitude practice." I want to have a spiritual, humane, practice of being grateful.

I'll let you explore the science and the spirit on your own. Here is what some literary figures have to say about it.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that 

comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all 

things have contributed to your advancement, you should include 

all things in your gratitude.” ―Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it 

could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” 

―A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even 

a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, 

indescribably magnificent world in itself.” —Henry Miller

“Find the good and praise it.” ―Alex Haley

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent 

of all the other virtues." ―Cicero

 “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing 

is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a 

miracle.” —Albert Einstein

Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem, "Two Countries." The skin is grateful. 

Denise Levertov, two poems with gratitude. 

Eleanor Lerman’s lovely poem of thanks, “Starfish.”

“If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, 

that would suffice.” —Meister Eckhart

I've started to post notes of gratitude. 

Thank you for reading this.

. . . more 31 days posts . . .