We are a society that grates rather than being grateful.
One of my Facebook friends made a decision this year. She was sick of people complaining and griping on social media. Her posts would be thankful.
I believe she has found the antidote to our society’s greatest disease.
I am convinced that a community is only as good as their enthusiasm. When our efforts are centered on complaints and not compliments, grievances and not creativity, consuming and not serving, we set ourselves up for a fall.
Not that we don’t have our list of legitimate local grievances. In coffee times, bike rides, mom’s gatherings, shopping aisle discussions, construction projects and social media connections, obvious grievances arise. Oil prices, weather disturbances, crop deterioration, health district restructuring, civic politics, and much more highlight our discussions.
Our region could easily spiral out of control. A depression could arise that affects our spirits, and not just our economic or social souls.
To fight rot in the spirit of our community, I would offer a thankfulness challenge.
When a complaint arises or a grievance is expressed, back the conversation up. List an area of thankfulness that is the flip side of the complaint or grievance. For those who are the brunt of our criticism, find an item of thankfulness related to them.
Remember, we are not just analyzing an economic, racial, social, administrative or even imaginary problem. We are dissolving the barrier that stops us from creatively approaching the problem.
Of course, thankfulness doesn’t come easily. We need to be practising gratitude every day. Two practice areas come to mind immediately.
Creation thankfulness: The sun rises each day, the moon cycles through its stages. Plants and animals supply beauty and food. The air sustains our lives. Our eyes see nature around us, our minds fathom the intricacies, our senses remind us that a creator fashioned us to enjoy this life.
Community thankfulness: People care. People gather around us for safety’s sake. People provide us with examples to help us navigate this life. People provide us with work, fun, interaction, anticipation and suspense.
We can be thankful as we surf the waves of life, or we can drown in the churning waters.
I’m all for getting out the surfboard!!
