I’ll admit it: I’m saddled with consumerism just like
everyone else. One of my specific vices is Starbucks. On their cups, they have
a line about "that first sip feeling" and go on
about the pure joy of it. It’s a marketing gimmick, but it actually sparked a
deep realization for me.
It’s hard to wake up some mornings and be
"grateful" to have another shot at life—especially for people
fighting severe sickness, people who don’t know where their next meal is coming
from, or those struggling just to put gas in the car. But it’s exactly those
struggles that should give us pause. We need to find gratitude in the fact that
we are breathing, functioning, and moving through the world.
For a long time, gratitude felt like a cliché to me. Roses,
daisies, whatever. But I’ve realized it isn't something you just say; it’s
something you have to feel. It has to wash over you.
I often talk about Civana in Arizona. It’s a great respite,
but it teaches you things the world needs more of. Every morning at 8 AM, they
gather at "the labyrinth" for an intention ceremony to set the stage
for the day. At 5 PM, you return for a gratitude ceremony. It’s easy to be
grateful when you’re in an oasis eating wonderful food, but bringing that
practice into real life is the challenge.
I’m usually good with the morning intention, but by 5 PM,
I’m still in the middle of the grind. I hit and miss. I’m writing this because
it helps me "hit" more often. As I always say on Breathe N Bounce:
I’m no guru. I’m just a dude trying to find his way, sharing my successes and
my falls so it might inspire you to help yourself.
The epiphany for this column actually hit me in a public
bathroom. A few weeks ago, I had kidney stones, and the pain was incredible.
Standing at that urinal today, peeing without pain felt like a miracle.
I started thinking about the people who have to use bags and
can’t get up. I thought about the people who use wheelchairs to get to the
sink, and those who don’t have use of their hands to wash them. It sounds
simple, but it’s everything.
I took a moment to pause for all those people and the
struggles they fight just to have some quality of life.
Gratitude isn't just an item on a to-do list. It’s a way of
life. Once you start to truly feel it, it’s a hell of a lot better than "that
first sip feeling." I’m going to keep working on this, giving
myself grace, and walking my path.
Are you prepared to walk the path with me?
NMF
M
