WOW Word-Of-the-Week #332: Gratitude
December 13, 2010 by Susan Clarke · Leave a Comment
Gratitude – a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation.
How often do you feel a sense of gratitude? Are you thankful for what you have? Do you appreciate your life and the people in it?
Elizabeth Edwards
This week it was announced that Elizabeth Edward’s doctors told her that it would be unproductive to continue her cancer treatments. She was told she may have up to a couple of months of life left.
She issued this statement on her Facebook page. “The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world. The days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.”
“It isn’t possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.”
The following day Elizabeth passed. It made me feel sad because she was just too young to die. It also brought up memories of my good friend Dixie who used to say, “You just never know when your time will be up. You could step off a curb and get hit by a bus.” Dixie died in 2006 from a very fast and aggressive form of cancer. I don’t want to be morbid, but we are all going to die. We just don’t know when.
This week focus on feeling gratitude. Do the Holidays typically cause you to feel stress? Is it a challenge to spend time with some family members? If you had only a couple of months of life left would you feel differently?
Reader Responses
“She was a great woman and I felt sad too.” – Elaine
“I find the importance of gratitude every single day of my life. WE ARE HERE, Susan. We can make a difference in other people’s lives with an attitude of gratitude. These last few days have offered me great examples. On Saturday, I took my father-in-law and his cousin for a leisurely lunch at a very nice restaurant in Milwaukee, WI, and afterward we watched the Marquette-Wisconsin basketball game. The lunch, the game tickets were all on me. I wanted to treat my father-in-law for all that he and his wife do for our two girls, especially baby-sitting. And there are not a lot of opportunities when he can catch up with his cousin, who is about 15 years younger than he is. The gratitude went both ways on Saturday. Yesterday I was in the Milwaukee area once again for a wake. While there were warnings about the weather on Wisconsin’s roads, I was able to make my way up safely and pay my respects to a former Marquette basketball coach and his family. The coach was always very welcoming and gracious to me during my lifetime. I wanted to show my gratitud to his widow and family. Because our days our numbered here, we have to make the most of them and show gratitude to those we love. The last two nights, my two-year-old wanted my attention when she was put to bed. So, I held her and talked to her until she fell asleep. I was grateful to be able to take that time with her. My wife and I also make sure that we can take the last two weeks off in December so that we can be home with our two- and nine-year-old girls. I am reminded of a song by 10,000 Maniacs entitled “These Are The Days,” that sums up beautifully how we have to take advantage of those days and moments that are so fleeting. So, I always try not to put off what I can do NOW! I agree with you about the sadness of the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. She was an incredible woman who truly put others before herself, even when she was betrayed. We need to emulate people like her in our daily lives. She gave the full, last measure of her life. May God rest her soul. Thank you, Susan. Great word. Take care. Happy holidays!” – “Warrior” Joe
“I love this one this week – I’m going to print it off and put it on my fridge
” – Love ya, A
“I appreciated your WOW more so today than usual – this email has two sides and it can be morbid but that’s a choice we make or we can take on the challenge to enjoy LIFE!” – Brenda
Word Of the Week #2: Gratitude
March 29, 2009 by Susan Clarke · Leave a Comment
Gratitude: the state of being grateful: thankfulness.
We all have things in our life, both personal and professional, that we can be thankful for. Some people focus on the things they don’t have versus the things they do have. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, “It’s not having what you want, but wanting what you’ve got.”
State of Grateful
I think gratitude = a great attitude! You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time.
Remember, attitude is what you display and gratitude is what you feel! Spend this week focusing on how you feel about your life and the things that you are thankful for.
Reader Responses
“I have taken the attitude of gratitude with me everywhere over the past 20 years. The biggest thing I learned is to make the most of today and let tomorrow take care of itself. I was also taught to be grateful for what I have and not worry about what I don’t have.
I think it was Joni Mitchell in “Big Yellow Taxi,” who sang “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Great word for today. Thanks for the reminder, Susan. I think we still all need to be reminded.” — Joe Moran
“Thank you for the following WOW emails. They are a pleasure to read. I especialy like this weeks word of the week. I am thankful for the fact that I work in a great industry. I am greatful for the relationship I have, and grateful for all the friends in my life.” — Jerry Gonzales
“Yes, your emails are motivating. I thought today’s WOW was exceptionally true. To succeed, gratitude is a necessary ingredient. If more people were thankful for what they have (whether they have a little or a lot), instead of complaining about what they do not have, their lives would be much richer for themselves, as well as for those around them.” — Terry L. Green
“Sounds like great advice…I’ll give it a try. It’s always hard since we all spend too much time on the negative.” — John Mullen
“Thank you for sharing this particular thought of Gratitude = Attitude. Of all days I needed to read this type of inspiration. God Bless and many more Blessings!!” — Mary Hernandez
“I think gratitude = a great attitude! You can’t be grateful and unhappy at the same time. The previous quote from your last message hit me where it hurts, and probably some others as well. Having gone thru the loss of Harold 4 years ago, hindsight shows me that I was grateful for friends, family, God, a roof, an inocme, etc., etc. – but during that same time frame I could honestly say I found no Joy or Happiness. I have been learning to climb out of that hole all this time. And believe me I do have a lot to be grateful for. Keep up the good work. Every good wish…” — Linda Gerry
“Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it, and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.” — Ann Flanders
“Thank you! I love this e-mails, because that is our focus! Turnover–How to show appreciation to your staff. Very helpful!” — Linda
“Many thanks for your good thoughts. You are sooooo right on!” — Margie Hope
“Thank you so much that’s what I needed to read today.Bless you and happy holiday’s.” — Tommy!” — Mark Updike