An Attitude of Gratitude

In the December 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine (yes, I bring new meaning to the words "day late and dollar short"), there is a compilation of quotes from famous people on things they are grateful for. Some of them are funny, like microwaves so kids can be fed in 3 minutes or less and root touch-up home hair dye kits... but one was pretty profound.

Maya Angelou (of course, leave it to her to be all meaningful and crap) said that there was a time in her life when she was just plain ol' depressed (although she may have stated it more eloquently than I just did). A vocal coach of hers noticed her lack of oomph and said to write down things she is grateful for. She couldn't think of anything. His advice, "write down that you can hear me say 'write down' and think of the millions who cannot hear the cries of their babies.... Write down that you can see this yellow pad and think of the millions on this planet who cannot see the smiles of their growing children...." Angelou finishes the blurb by saying to this day, she remains in "an attitude of gratitude." And I've decided that I want that.

I don't know if you've noticed, but I tend to be a little sarcastic. I am cynical. I am snarky. I dare say sometimes I am downright mean. (Insert comment about how I pick on Sarah Palin here.) While I am comfortable with my abrasive personality (sometimes), I wonder what it would be like to just be content. Instead of fretting (yes, I said fret) about going through Jack's poo to find the nickel he ate on Saturday night, I can consider myself blessed that he didn't choke on it. Instead of lamenting the pile of laundry that seems to be growing in the wrong direction (much like my waistline), I will be glad for the fact that we can afford the clothes we wear to keep us warm (and stop from scarring small children if we walked around naked) and that we can afford a washer and dryer in our home to clean it, and that my lack of success in the laundry department comes directly from the full lives that keep me and the kids busy all day (even if it is just playing trains in the playroom). I am going to make an effort once a week to use this blog for good, instead of evil, and share in Maya Angelous's attitude of gratitude. I can be a good person, too. (Even if it's only once a week).