Some tell you to have an “attitude of gratitude”.  That sounds catchy.  And it’s not the same as practicing gratitude.  Practicing implies intention.  Work.  Even doing something you don’t always want to do.  Because you know it’s good and right.  Because it ultimately makes a difference in how you feel…and succeed.

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On This Episode

Rhythm of Life – Don’t Stick Your Neck Out
Random Riffs – Baby, It’s Cold Outside Revisited
Feature Segment – Give Gratitude All You’ve Got

Today’s Quote

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.  -Anonymous

Rhythm of Life – Don’t Stick Your Neck Out

“Don’t stick your neck out!”

You’ve probably heard someone say that to you when you were thinking of taking a stand for or against something.  Or trying to make a change.

To some it means, “Don’t be seen.  Don’t take a risk.  Hang with the crowd.  It’s safer that way.  Don’t get your head chopped off.”

In my life, the phrase has taken on whole new meaning.  My Alexander Teacher wants me to be all in or all out.  Not stick my neck out.  That’s only partly in.

Going all in feels scary.  Less safe than only sticking my neck out.  But what if it isn’t?  Listen to the episode to hear more.

Random Riffs – Baby, It’s Cold Outside Revisited

Episode 103, I talked about how much I dislike song Baby It’s Cold Outside.  All kinds of reasons.  Here’s a link in case you want to listen to it.

This song caused big controversy in 2018 because of #metoo.  Now this year John Legend and Kelly Clarkson teamed up to record a new version of the song.  With words that don’t seem to celebrate seduction by coercion.

And yet there’s been backlash for this too.

So here’s a challenge: write some new really cute duets so we can simply forget about this one.  Wouldn’t it be lovely?

Feature Segment: Give Gratitude All You’ve Got

I sat on my couch, hunched over because I didn’t have the strength to hold myself up.  Feeling like I was at the bottom.  What did I have to live for?  My husband had been dead for 7 years, and now I was seriously ill.  I couldn’t see an end to the misery.

“Write in a journal,” people said.  So I did.  Poured out my heart.  I did the same on my morning walks.

Now I notice it’s the same stuff over and over.  I realize I’m repeating it.  Almost rehearsing it.  As if I was practicing my lines in a script.

Is this helping me feel better?  NO.  There has to be another way.  Another approach.

Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts.

Shawn Achor’s The Happiness Advantage.

Both books talk extensively about something important – practicing gratitude.

At time of this release, we just celebrated Thanksgiving in the US.  Whatever you believe about morality or lack thereof in the Pilgrims’ dealings with the native Americans, they set time aside to give thanks for what they still had.  Even though almost half had died.

I knew it was possible to feel grateful.  I just didn’t know how.  And then one day I had an “Aha!” moment.  Listen to the episode to hear what I did, and what the experts say about it.

You don’t have to limit your Thanksgiving celebration to once a year.  You can skip the turkey and pies, and go straight to the thanks.  Every day.

Give gratitude all you’ve got.  You’ve got nothing to lose except negativity.

Question: Do you even find it difficult to feel grateful?  What happens when you practice gratitude?  Leave a comment.