Tradition of gratitude

CHASING DOWN THE MUSE

‘We always do it this way.” For many of us, the holiday of

Thanksgiving is the beginning of a season of traditions -- national,

familial, personal. With this in mind, my thoughts turn to the power

of traditions and the meaning of gratitude.

From the time we are children, this season begins with stories of

the Pilgrims and their celebration of the many gifts they found here

in this new land. The celebration continues, and each family develops

its own rituals and ceremonies around this tradition of thanksgiving,

of gratitude for gifts received. What would I choose for my own

tradition of gratitude?

Gratitude is the recognition of the feeling that one values a

kindness or benefit received. It links emotion with thought, the

heart with the head. When we say, “thank you,” it is also an

expression of our belonging to something larger than ourselves. It

acknowledges our interdependence. It can be a healing balm in times

of grief, anger, self-pity or loneliness.

Though I have abundant good fortune, I am not always either

grateful or aware. Mistakes I’ve made, things I don’t have, lack of

excitement -- these things sometimes command my focus and awareness.

Perhaps I could choose a new tradition -- to go beyond one day of

giving thanks. Perhaps I could stay aware and in gratitude. Perhaps

the simple act of expressing gratitude -- daily -- for those

important and small things that grace my life. Perhaps I could start

now.

I am grateful for the blessing and teachings of life -- through

obstacles and challenges. I am grateful for things great and small

that nourish and sustain me. I am grateful for the fantastic and

awesome. I am grateful for the laughter and love that just seem to

show up out of nowhere.

I give thanks for the warm sun on my skin, for the light brush of

the cool breeze, for the smell of roses, for the sound of pounding

surf echoing up the canyons, for the beauty of the moon. Thanks go

out to the myriad people who play a part in there being food on my

table -- growers, truckers, suppliers, clerks, baggers, etc. Thanks

to the people who clean the streets, make the water safe and to those

who govern.

I am grateful to be living here by the sea. I am grateful for my

family and the good health of us all. I am grateful for support from

family, friends and complete strangers. I am grateful for clients who

come to me for answers and manage to teach me so much. I am grateful

for a husband who loves me even though sometimes I am a complete

s--t. I am grateful to and for all the people who supported my first

and only marathon this past summer.

I am grateful for myriad learning opportunities and the occasional

wisdom to use them. I am grateful for the opportunity to write in a

newspaper -- for the personal growth it engenders and the feedback

from readers -- because writing it all down helps to remind me, too.

I am grateful for the wellspring of ideas, even though sometimes it

may interfere with my sleep. Perhaps, most of all, I am simply

grateful -- just in general. Melody Beattie inspires my need for a

continuous tradition of thankfulness when she says, “Gratitude

unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and

more. ... It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a

stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings

peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

What if we always did it this way?

* CHERRIL DOTY is a creative living coach, writer, artist and

walker who lives and works in Laguna Beach. Contact her by e-mail at

emmagine8@aol.com or by phone at 251-3883. Your thoughts and

questions are appreciated.