Spot No. Nine. The Workshop Of Gratitude.

In one of my previous posts I have raised the importance of gratitude. How well did you do with your “homework”? I am sure there are more than ten things you can be grateful for and at least ten people that you could list.  But I am aware that no true victory is easy. The ability to be grateful is one of the winner’s skills. Therefore, if you are still struggling with the challenge of gratitude and haven not found anyone to say “Thank you” at all,  I will give you some tips.

1. Think of the occasions, marked in your calendar. We have just finished Christmas celebrations. How do you think – was it a good time to express gratitude? How many opportunities have you got to do good deeds? Think of each present and wish; it is enough to reciprocate. But you might not like Christmas and it is nothing wrong in it. Where can you look for your chances to express your gratitude then?

2. List all the people who have done something important for you, in other words  – your true friends. Here is the quote from Twitter, proving the thesis above “A real friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the World walks out.”, regarded as Top Tweet now. In case of the relationship which is so important you will be likely to be grateful – at least remembering about his or her birthday or trying to help in need. Otherwise you are not playing fair, taking without giving. Yet it is your choice, you need to know what friendship means in your opinion. However, true friends are perfect example of dear people, who count on your list of blessings.  And who are for you  the real reason to give.

3. You can add your family (parents siblings or other members), but be careful -  it is often bruised and the truth is misshaped by negative beliefs and experiences. You also need to live above subjective perception of blood-tied relationships. Nevertheless, should you find a dear family member, he or she can be many times dearer than your best friend.

4. Think of all the people who have had an tremendous positive impact on your life, but are public persons and rather inaccessible for close relationship. Yet you appreciate them and would be glad to make friends with them. You usually don’t do it in reality, bot today there are many forms of contact, like social media. The only limit is the other party’s time and privacy restrictions. They are also called “heroes/sheroes”: music, film or sport stars, sometimes outstanding religious leaders and few politicians. In  case”heres/sheroes”, the gratitude spreads on more than one generation, regardless if the people are blood-tied or not.

But this kind of function also mean that they have both allies (like you) and foes (also from various generations). The foes will not be grateful.. unless the public person defeats or totally devastates his or her reputation. As you can see, gratitude may be positive and negative. The true winner only assumes expressing the constructive type of gratitude.

5. Now, define the occasion on which you could express your gratitude. Christmas is one but not the only chance. You can choose your totally unique date, not connected with any type of social celebration. Even your birthday may be celebrated on various days, just check a few different calendars, apart from the standard Georgian one. If you have chosen the day, plan the events, it can be even a special show, of yourself. Prepare the content.

6. Be aware that each group I have described here is different and you will also express your gratitude in various ways – to your friends, family members or heroes/ sheroes. Just think who is available face-to face and what kind of formality will be used. Another aspect is language and cultural background – if you have people that deserve your gratitude from all over the world.

7. Make a good plan and let it be one of your New Year’s resolutions. Remember – you will never know how long those living around you – will be living. So take the opportunity and tell them that you are grateful for at least the tinniest good deed they have done to you.

Remember to share this instructions with your friends on Facebook and to leave your comment under this post. It is also the evidence of gratitude. Thank you.