There’s much to be grateful for. In spite of all our problems and challenges, if we look around, we realise there’s much in place. 

Our sense of gratitude comes from awareness. The realisation that there are millions with severe challenges and our own situation deserves thanks.

It comes from knowledge. Understanding that what we have is a blessing. True we have worked for it, but we’ve also been blessed with circumstances favouring us.

It comes from deep compassion. Feeling the pain of others and putting our own challenges in perspective.

It comes from humility. Knowing we’re not the only ones who’ve created what we have. Others in our life, sometimes even earlier generations have contributed to our well being.

It comes from responsibility. That we are but trustees of the resources bestowed to us, to use and share mindfully, for the benefit of all. With money we will know the cost of something, with gratitude we will realise its value.

It comes from observation. Things we have and do, often taken for granted could be a struggle for others. A hot meal, a warm bed, someone to love, someone who loves us, an able body and mind, or just access to clean drinking water.

And gratitude has the amazing power of subduing our ego and invoking love. It gives us a perspective of what’s truly important and what being fortunate means. 

Our mind is like a telescope. Viewed through the right lense, we see and experience the largeness and grace of life. But the same telescope used from the wrong end makes things look much smaller than they are. When we are filled with irritation and anger, when we complain about small things, when we become petty and egoistic, we know we’re looking through the wrong end of the telescope. We must make gratitude the lense through which we look at life.

Life is the greatest gift we have. Living it with Love and Responsibility, is the way to show our Gratitude.