"Human Being: A Creature That Walks Upright and is Ungrateful"
A few years back, I bought a new house. I set up a tree on Halloween but didn't decorate it for Christmas. Instead I called it my Thanksgiving Tree. I decorated the tree with notes or representations of all of the things in life I am thankful for, It's amazing how full the tree was. I understand the concept of being thankful for a laundry list of things.
But to me, Thanksgiving is more of a state of being than an action or list. Thankfulness (as a state of being) destroys depression, anxiety and bitterness. The concept of the state of being Thankful is to redirect our attention away from the things in life that are not good and bring to focus that which us genuinely, completely and absolutely good.
This is so hard for humans. Even when it's time to make a list of things to be thankful for, we have a hard time coming up with one. Sure, there are friends, family, relationships. There are always events and possessions to appreciate. Now and then, we even allow ourselves to be proud of our own accomplishments or conquests. But, even in the midst of making the list, our minds tend to gravitate towards the things that are still wrong with life and the world around us. We're just better at criticizing than we are at complimenting. We recognize what's wrong much more quickly than we acknowledge what's right.
The mindset of Thankfulness teaches the opposite. It teaches us to notice and call out the good things in life. It teaches us to downplay and reduce the importance of things that are not good enough. From that perspective, we are better able to bring that which is not good into harmony and alignment with that which is truly good.
It's not what is wrong with the world that matters, it is what is right. Now, how to we influence or change that which is wrong to make it right? Rather than being offended at the bad stuff, indignant about injustice, upset at others' behavior or actions, or depressed at our own bad luck and bad decisions, we learn to be attracted to and seek out the good things in life and to perceive, appreciate and anticipate them more passionately.
I used to think our condition was a result of us being a society of spoiled brats. We assume that life is supposed to be fun and happy and satisfying, and get upset when it fails to meet our expectations. Our assumption that life owes us something mitigates the enjoyment of real pleasure, just like a spoiled kid doesn't appreciate any good thing; she just assumes it's supposed to be that way, and throws a wild-eyed fit if something doesn't go her way.
But it seems to be deeper than that. It seems like we are educated from birth to find flaws, complain and be depressed. We need a renewed mind, and a different worldview to enjoy all of the good things life offers. Before we can enjoy them, we have to perceive them. Before we perceive them we have to look for them.
So let's be Thankful today and every day from now on.