“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” This quote by Cynthia Shoshana Ozick, an American short story writer, novelist, and essayist, rings true for me. How easy it can be to take for granted the air we breathe, the life-sustaining rain, and the abilities that most of us have to see, hear, taste, and sense in other ways.
A friend of mine complains whenever it rains. I suppose she doesn’t think about what would happen if it never rained again. And this very likely is her way of saying she prefers sunny days, which I understand. I love to see the blue sky too. But in a way, my friend takes for granted the benefits that rain brings.
Many people don’t think about the material things that are readily available to them—variety and easy access to foods, a comfortable home in a safe neighborhood, a vehicle that gets them where they want to go with a minimum of effort. In many parts of the world—and for some people in the United States too—millions of people do not have these gifts.
I have found that, as people grow in consciousness, they tend to grow in ability to feel gratitude as well. Becoming more aware of inner direction through dreams, synchronicities, intuitive promptings, and unexpected happenings helps us in many ways, including enabling us to recognize how very much we have been given. Doing inner work leads to the realization that our egos are just one aspect of our psyches, of the person we are. This can lead to noticing and appreciating the many blessings we have been given.
I have also found that having the ability to be genuinely thankful adds meaning and a sense of peace to our lives.