Daily Gratitude

Day 103

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

– Plato

It is with a somber mood that I write today’s post. Through our shared apartment wall, I heard my neighbor take his own life tonight. I didn’t know him but to exchange pleasantries when our paths crossed at our joint landing, but witnessing something like this so close to home will make you take pause and reflect. I’ve been focused on positivity for long enough now that it’s becoming my first reflex to be grateful for what I have before I get down on a situation, but that’s not true for everyone.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for my neighbor. I don’t know the circumstances surrounding his mindset, and in times like this we often wonder if there was something that anyone could have done to change the outcome. It’s hard to say, we all have a whole world going on inside of us that no one else really knows. You can present a facade to the world that masks your inner turmoil. The world witnessed one such shock almost two years ago when beloved actor and comedian Robin Williams took his life.

What we can do is strive to be our best selves, and try to learn from these tragedies. We can try to forgive, and be kind to everyone who crosses our paths. We can adopt a daily practice of gratitude. No matter how much support and encouragement we may have, and even if we have none, we must never loose sight of the fact that we have ourselves, and that’s a whole lot. Gratitude might be the one thing that has the power to help us move from a state of severe depression toward joy, one step at a time.

I came across this inspirational tale that seemed fitting for this post:

A group of school children were asked to list what they thought were the present “Seven Wonders Of The World.” Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter’s Basilica
7. Great Wall of China

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The little girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there are so many.” The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders Of The World are:

1. To see
2. To hear
3. To touch
4. To taste
5. To feel
6. To laugh
7. To love

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous. A gentle reminder – that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

I am grateful that my neighbor is no longer suffering. Rest in peace my friend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!