In the quiet of the night I heard the distant, steady hissing from somewhere in the walls of my house. By morning, after confirming the outdoor water hose was off, my hubby determined the eerie whistling wasn’t coming from the walls but rather, under the floor.
We had a leak.
Somehow, somewhere, under the floor, water was escaping.
After a diligent search, thanks to the “leak inspectors”, the leak was discovered to be under the floor of our guest room, clear across the other side of the house. For the next three days, due to the presence of the leak inspectors and the plumber, our house was chaos.
CHAOS, I tell ya!
Trucks were camped in our driveway, thick power chords were strewn about our house, we were without water for several hours, and there was the incessant pounding of a jackhammer, which left a blanket of gritty dust on EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE in the guest room. Annnnd, don’t get me started on the heightened anxiety that set in on our “already-a-bit-neurotic” doxie dog.
We were completely misplaced, and grumble, I did.
On one of these evenings, with water to only one-half of our house, I was washing our dishes in the guest bathroom sink, still grumbling. When I nearly finished, with my hands still immersed in hot, soapy suds, I looked up. Catching my reflection of annoyance in the bathroom mirror, I suddenly froze. As a thickness appeared in my throat and a slight heat rose to my cheeks, something happened.
I shifted my focus.
My thoughts suddenly turned to those who have NO water . . . to those who survive on only a few dollars each month . . . to those who long to be loved by someone . . . to those who don’t have a place to live, let alone a house with a guest room and guest bathroom. A tightness stabbed my chest as I bit my lip and came to the following realization:
While I was grumbling, someone was praying for what I grumbled about.
Complaining. Selfishness. Consumed with the worry of my own problems with no thought of anyone else. Where was my gratefulness?
Does this ring true for you at times too?
In that moment, I made a resolve. The next time my complaining spirit raises its ugly head, I hope to replace thoughts of what I believe I’m lacking with gratefulness and content for everything I have.
Having an attitude of gratitude doesn’t just “happen” magically though. Gratitude needs to be cultivated, but . . . how?
Here are a few helpful ways:
Appreciate everything. Be thankful for the good AND the bad in your circumstances. Remember hard times you’ve gone through and realize even negative experiences serve a purpose in shaping who you are.
Jot it down. Each day, write down five things you are grateful for. This simple task helps rewire your brain to become more grateful, which will give you new perspective and may ultimately help you weather some of life’s challenges a bit better.
Practice present moment awareness. Be fully present in your moments. Rather than wishing for how things could be, just be grateful for what is, which also helps shift your focus.
Think beyond yourself. When you and I stop amid our complaining to think about those who are less fortunate, we begin to experience a deeper appreciation for what we have.
Practicing gratitude is just that . . . a practice. With conscious effort and intention we can make being thankful a daily occurrence that will reign victorious over the “grumble gremlins”.
So . . . I ask you . . . what are you grateful for today?
