Do you ever think about the nature of thankfulness?

That’s a thought provoking article. And when I think about it, it is true. The happiest people I know are those who are grateful, it seems like a no brainer when you write it out.

I am grateful for my health, for my mate, for my dogs and for being able to work to keep it all together.

Whenever I run in the heat of the tropics, people often say why do you do that??? Inside I know I am running for those who cannot and would love to for just that reason and I run because I CAN and am very grateful for the ability.

Thanks ZenMan! Hope your bum gets better soon.

Very nice what you wrote, and interesting. I am grateful every day I have without pain. I don’t need something fantastic to happen to be filled with enormous glee. When I pause for a seconds, or maybe I just have a moment of realization that today I feel good; then I start to look around and realize how much there is to enjoy about life. Mostly it has to do with my senses: looking at something I love, or the comfort of a chair in my home while I watch a favorite show on tv, or my husband leaving me a message that shows he was thinking about me, it could be anything, the simplest thing.

@rooeytoo And thank you for your kind words, dear friend.

@JLeslie :-) Thanks!

Thanks for that article, I enjoyed reading it. It makes a lot of sense. You have some fantastic children! Congrats on raising teenagers that actually see other people besides themselves. I have a 6 and 8 year old, and right now that is my main goal.

@jamielynn2328 Thanks. Bon chance with ‘em. A word of advice from a single dad; take pictures and write down everything clever they say. You _will forget the gems; it’s just nature.

If you write them down, you’ll have a future treasure trove of words of (their) wisdom: teach the children – for they shall teach us.

@Zen_Again Thanks. I give thanks for this life. It could be worse. I’m grateful to have my family, friends, food, a home, EVERYTHING even some bad things because all things is what makes me-me and I love me. Sometime, it’s just not my day, but I give thanks, because from that day it helps me grow to become stronger. I may not say that I’m grateful out loud (verbally), but in thought, I give thanks to everything.

I love Dave Berry! My body has turned on me so I can’t be thankful that I have good health.I am soooo thankful that I have my children.I live in a country that is so good. I thank something every day that my country is my country. I worked on a cancer unit for years and every day I thanked something that this wasn’t happening in my world. Except it was. 2 friends in the last 5 years. But I can still get to the bathroom on my own, my kids are healthy so far- and so yes I’m thankful. But it is not to the God of the Bible.

@cyndihugs—Just to continue your (and my) train of thought… thanks for the reply.

Apropo saying “thanks” out loud:

An old man once told me something I will pass on to you and those reading, perhaps; he said, “It isn’t enough to want peace – you have to say it out loud. You have to want it, dream it, live it and act that way – and say it to your friends, your neighbours and even yes, your enemies. Out loud! Shout it out and mean it! Inside your heart, nobody knows what you truly think – and if you don’t say the words – no-one will know. People aren’t psychic and mind-readers (This is still the old man talking). So if you want peace (or, in this case – would like to thank someone, yourself, your kids or God or Buddha) – say it out loud – occasionally, at least. The sound of your voice might do wonders – you never know who might be listening.”

(I added that last part. I believe it to be true.)

:-)

ZEN OUT

@Zen_Again I guess in Israel you hear the word all day every day.

@JLeslie Not enough, sadly. Not enough. But I know what you mean… shalom.

ZEN OUT

@Zen_Again I actually write it as my facebook status every once in a while, but in several languages, English, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, etc.

@Zen Again Peace, brother.

Peace Shalom Salaam.