How frequently do you express gratitude about your life?

This is sort of a follow up from last week’s question… Fitting, with this Thursday being Thanksgiving and all. And I mean real Thanksgiving. Not whatever the Canadians do back in October.**

I’ll admit, I don’t express gratitude as often as I should. I know that I have a plethora of blessings in my life. I should be on my knees thanking God every day for all that I have. But as long as I’m making confessions, I have to say my prayer life isn’t exactly what it should be either.

Don’t get me wrong, when someone does or says something nice, I say thank you. It’s instinct. I was raised to be polite… to have manners, as they would say in the south. If I’m not on a first name basis with someone, I will call them “ma’am” or “sir” when responding to a question, even though I know that sometimes makes people feel old. Makes me feel old… When I hear someone sneeze I automatically say, “Bless you.” I hold doors for strangers. These are all just little things that were instilled in me from a young age by my parents.

But living a life that displays gratitude? That’s a different story. Those manners… that politeness that I just talked about? It’s a veneer. A shiny, glossy finish on top of a bitter fool who could probably benefit from an anger management course. I only say that because I know the person I become when I’m behind the wheel of a car.

When I sit down and really consider my life, I am incredibly grateful. But I won’t sit here and tell you that it’s something I consider every day. I have my health. I have a roof over my head and a comfortable bed to sleep in. I have more plates than I need and plenty of food to put on them. I am grateful for all that I have.

I just don’t always show it.

*The Question of the Week can be found in The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock, Ph.D.

**To my Canadian friends and readers, please know I was only joking and meant no offense. October Thanksgiving, I’m certain, is a wonderful tradition that I know absolutely nothing about. But hey, who’s gonna say no to early Thanksgiving, am I right?