What about you?

[e_d_young]

Apparently I have no gratitude.

All of us have probably heard about the supposed benefits of gratitude exercises, like keeping a gratitude journal. Last night I tried to think of three things I was grateful for that day. And ... Nothing. Zilch. I could think of nothing. It's like my brain couldn't even think that way.

Maybe I'm an ingrate.

Comments

[myste_uk]

Well, today I'm grateful for..

(1) being able to use the internet
(2) that the weather (and also the house I'm in) is warm
(3) the existence of painkillers

And it doesn't make you an ingrate if you can't think of things to be grateful for. It's very hard to see things that one takes for granted as even existing, especially if you're having a hard time. I know there are some days where I really feel I have nothing to be grateful for, and I think it takes some practice to see the good things one has, especially when they don't seem like much, such as having a roof over one's head, or heating that works, or clothes to wear or food to eat, or having all one's limbs or mental faculties, or being able to see or hear, or not having a painful medical condition, or having any kind of education, or being able to read and write. Those things may seem like poor consolation, especially if it's some of those things one doesn't have, but they are worth appreciating.

[mudflapgirl]

It's not always easy to get to that place where you can rattle off a list of things that you are grateful for, and not everything on that list has to be something profound. I personally don't keep a journal, but from time to time I do a reality check. It might just be that I still have half a tank of gas in the car, or that I made it to pay day without overdrawing my account. Sometimes the smallest thing can turn your day around.

[fizzyland]

Welcome to Ingrate Club. The first rule of Ingrate Club is YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT GRATITUDE. Or do silly exercises like fill out journals. Yes, if we live in western society and can eat and put a roof over our heads we have plenty to be grateful for. However, I fail to see any benefit to exercises that sound strangely like prayer thanking God for things that exist in our lives.

[e_d_young]

I thoroughly enjoyed your comment.

[marjun]

You can be grateful that no one bursts into your house and demands that you express gratitude or face the firing squad.

[just_jenn]

I'm in the oddball club because I actually do practice gratitude routinely. I don't write it down (although I used to), but I mentally acknowledge it or talk about it with someone (ie: my kids, husband, or friends).

For me gratitude is paramount to authentic happiness. It's easy to get pulled under by the utter bullshit that life can dish out. 2012 has been a gawddamn beast: my father-in-law died, my daughter tried to commit suicide (I found her hanging herself), my neighbor died, my grandma died, and all of it sunk me into my first ever depression on top of the fact that we've been in the worst financial position of our lives. I'm also a fulltime college student.

It would be easy to extend a great big FU to universe and wallow. Maybe even expected. And yes, there are really bad days, but I work at finding gratitude because I do not want that negativity to consume me.

Being grateful for small things is one of the best ways to have perspective. Perspective is always a good thing.

[marsidotes]

Jenn. . . got to say my heart breaks for you. I've had years like that and it feels like you are on a roller coaster and can't get off the damn thing. Depression will pass. . . you are just on overload right now. And yes, being grateful for the small things helps.