Cory overlooking the beach from the beach house at sunset – March 2009

Are you humbly grateful of grumbly hateful?

The other day I was reading Prairie Woman’s blog (www.areavoices.com/prairiewomn/) and she used a Bonnie Tyler song from the eighties – “Holding Out for a Hero” – to emphasize the struggles of others in society. Note I say others, not me – I am fortunate. Prairie Woman’s blog was a reminder of the struggles that folks endure every day in this world – no check that – in this country – the good ol’ U. S. of A.

Her blog reminded me that the fortunate owe something to those that are less fortunate and I am not talking donations or platitudes about courage and strength. There are many things we should be doing to improve life conditions for others, but I am not talking about that today. I am talking about what we owe at the least to those whose lives are less fortunate. What we owe is – recognition of how fortunate we are – an attitude of gratitude (as Oprah would put it)…or more simply put, being humbly grateful.

I have a theory about this – to be humbly grateful one must be in touch with the reality of others’ lives and in being in touch from a perspective of gratitude (as opposed to arrogance, ego, etc.) one tacitly acknowledges that there, but for the grace of God, go I. And it is the acknowledgment in being humbly grateful that matters – the acknowledgment that some of the tragic problems folks face are not as much a function of their failure or dysfunction as they are the hand dealt by fate.

Now here’s where the theory comes in, if more people who were fortunate were humbly grateful (which changes the way one views these problems) society’s collective view would shift incrementally and our approach to dealing with these problems would change (become more consistent and more humane) which would lead to an improvement in the landscape. The improvement in the landscape is actually a function of the perspective shift to humbly grateful. Now lest you think I am brilliant or conversely, absolutely bonkers, note that this is an intellectual modification of broken windows theory that merely shifts from the broken window to a broken attitude (grumbly hateful).

I had magnets made a few years back that pose the question, “Are you humbly grateful of grumbly hateful?” I have one on the inside of my front door and I see it every day before I leave my comfortable home to get into my cute (and now paid off) car to go to the job that I love. I am well and my family and friends are well – where is there room for anything but gratitude?

Oh wait-I did get the $560 phone bill – chalked up from talking long periods of time to my son Noah in Canada (who knew that was long distance?). I did get sick from eating my own cooking the other day (will I never learn?). I have been working quite a bit of the summer away on volunteer projects (so you know – my “secretary spread” is a product of my goodwill). Grumbly hateful…nope. Humbly grateful that I get to talk to Noah and can afford to pay the bill. Humbly grateful that I have food to cook and that my hope for my cooking skill advancement springs eternal. Humbly grateful that I have something to contribute to this world beyond my ever increasing posterior spread.

I have been dealt a good hand and I refuse to have a broken attitude. Ask yourself today and every day – “Are you humbly grateful of grumbly hateful?”

Day thirty of the new forty – obla di obla da

CC