THE word gratitude comes from the Latin word “gratus” which means thankful or pleasing.
A passage in the Bible talks about being thankful in all things. In modern times, various authors have used the catchphrase “an attitude of gratitude” as a key to success, greatness and happiness.
Gratitude also speaks of acceptance, of not fighting whatever comes one’s way, but taking it in stride while continuing to live one’s life. I recall a story of a zen master living in a village where he was respected and revered. People would go to him and sit with him and offer him food or drink, and he would heartily accept these and say, “Very well, thank you.”
Then one day, there was a rumor that he had impregnated a young girl and the villagers lost trust in him. They greeted him with dagger looks and some even shouted and threw rotten vegetables at him. Amidst all these, he just said, “Very well, thank you.”
The young girl finally came out and accused him in public of forcing himself upon her. The villagers were enraged and drove the master out, pelting him with sticks and stones. As he left the village, he turned around and said, “Very well, thank you,” and went to live in the nearby woods.
The girl finally delivered the baby, and was stricken by conscience, because she had falsely accused the master. In truth it was the village chief’s son who was the infant’s father, but they conspired to blame the old man for fear of the chief’s wrath. The girl confessed, and the villagers went to the woods to ask forgiveness from the old master and beg him to come live with them again.
The old man simply said, “Very well, thank you,” and went back to live in the village.
Having just celebrated my 45th year of existence, I look back and find so many things for which I am grateful:
For a dad who worked hard to provide me with material comfort and a great education; who was stern in chipping off my rough edges, yet reasonable enough to allow me enough freedom to spread my wings;
For a mom who talks tough but has a great heart, and always ready to give a box of pomelos;
For siblings each with their own quirks, but always caring in their own special way;
For the endless stream of dogs my mom collected, and whom I grew up loving and crying over when they passed on, and for the two that I now have, who still adore me though I call them stupid and crazy;
For the shelves full of books that were my greatest sources of ideas and imagination, for great authors who welcomed me into their worlds and universes;
For great teachers who inspired me, and for the not-so-great ones, who taught me to learn things on my own anyway;
For former students who come back and remind me how crazy I was;
For friends with whom I can share genuine laughter and silence; and for unfriends who remind me never to be like them;
For my three not-so-kids anymore who are growing up really fast, who give me joy just by their being;
And for my one and only wife, who sees all the good in me, and all the bad as well, but loves me anyway;
These past 45 years have been very well, thank you.
Email me at andy@freethinking.me. View previous articles at www.freethinking.me.