During the last four and a half years I have written and published every post here on SMART Living 365. But as Thom and I prepared for a three week trip over the holidays, I decided to invite three other bloggers I enjoy and admire to contribute and share their SMART advice. Today’s Guest Post comes from author and writer Corinne Rodrigues. Corinne and her writings come to us from halfway around the world in Secunderabad, South India. While our backgrounds are obviously quite different, Corinne and I both often write about many of the qualities that I think make up a SMART Life. Things like a grateful heart, giving, hope, love and thanksgiving are so universal it doesn’t matter where you live. I hope you enjoy this post, and I strongly encourage you to check out Corinne’s blog Everyday Gyaan if you get a chance. Thank you, Corinne, for sharing your loving, grateful and kind writings with all of us.
As I’m cooking spinach this afternoon, I inhale the lovely scent of cumin and coriander and I give thanks for the gift of spices. Earlier this morning, it was thanks for the freshness of the aloe vera soap I used in my shower.
I start to think about how offering thanks has become such a part of my everyday routine. I think of my journey into gratitude and decide that I’ll share it with you today.
At 41, after a series of failed romances and consequent heartbreak and disappointment, I met José and before too long we were married. Life should have been wonderful. But as we settled into married life, we met with one mishap after another.
In the space of three years, we faced a minor home invasion, a huge home renovation project that went off the rails for a while, two severe bouts of malaria apiece, two cataract surgeries for me and an accident resulting in a hip replacement surgery for José. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention care-giving my mother after a stroke and my brother after his heart surgery!
Employing my ‘why-me’ attitude of the past, seemed the perfect response to these experiences. I can’t quite ![corinne_fb[1]](http://smartliving365.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/corinne_fb1.jpg)
put a finger on what made me change my way of looking at things, but I know now the only way we made it through was by having an attitude of gratitude.
When José met with an accident, instead of panicking that being fairly new to the city, I had no one to help me take him to the hospital, look after our dog and spell me out while he was hospitalized, I stopped and gave thanks. I said to myself, “I don’t know what I’ll learn through this, but I’m grateful for the experience.” This act of faith seemed to work, for we had a series of angels helping us through the experience.
For me now, gratitude is being awake. Awake to the beauty of life and living. Awake to the many possibilities that life has to offer. Awake to Nature and its beauty. Awake to kindness and the generosity of people. Awake even to evil and aware of how it works. Awake to sorrow and darkness within me and in the world.
As David Whyte says, “Gratitude is not a passive response to something given to us, gratitude is being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.”
No matter what you call it – a habit, an attitude, a way of living, gratitude definitely works for me. I’ve realized that to be grateful is to find blessings in everything. And the more gratitude becomes a part of you, the more blessings you will find.
What then does gratitude mean to you?
Corinne Rodrigues is a lover of words, a frequent book reviewer, and a self-acceptance blogger. Happily journeying through midlife, moving from self-improvement to self-acceptance, and enjoying being herself, you can find more of her writing on her blog Everyday Gaan.
Please make Corinne welcome in the comments below.
Gratitude is the only thing I hold on to when everything else fails. It gives me balance and great hope that motivates me to move and stay on track again. Thanks for sharing a beautiful post.
Hi Corrine, thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve just declared Gratitude to be my word for 2016 and I’m looking forward to that adventure. Being grateful doesn’t equal to being passive, I couldn’t agree more with David Whyte’s words!
How wonderful, Petra. Looking forward to following your journey through a year of gratitude.
Gratitude is opening my eyes and noticing the wonders around me and inside of me. Only when I live too fast do I fail to notice them.
Living too fast! That’s always a danger. This year I plan to simplify and naturally slow down, Julie!
Hi Corinne,
I love the value you have attached to this word, which encompasses a world of truth for me.
Gratitude is indeed a priceless emotion, a sentiment, which we need to nurture all the time.
When I met with an accident, with my car literally flying into the air but I being held securely by the presence of that divine power we all look upto, I came out of that car in a single piece, with few bruises and could walk into my loving home, where my little children, the younger one just 6 years old were waiting for me…I learnt the true meaning of gratitude. This face to face death experience unraveled all those beauties, which we take for granted.
This post has touched the cords of my heart and reminded me how much grateful we should be for all we have received. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing, Balroop. I had no idea that you had been through such a traumatic experience. I can see how it would change your perspective on life. I’m grateful that you were spared – you certainly make the world a better place with the wisdom and love you share.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the regrets, the failures, the misfortunes; so thanks for reminding us to wake up to the good things in our lives.
I’ve found that gratitude is what keeps me sane and grounded, Tom.
Love your attitude of gratitude, Corinne and practicing it when one is going through a tough time is truly commendable. I have realized that gratitude helps calm and soothes the inner turmoil specially during challenging times. Good to see you here 🙂
Thanks, Shilpa. And yes, there’s nothing more calming than looking at a problem with the eyes of gratitude!
that was beautiful Corinne – gratitude colours everything if we let it. Circumstances are the same but how we look at them changes our attitude and our ability to cope and can make all the difference! Lovely post 🙂
Absolutely, Leanne! It’s amazing how our perspective changes when we look at things with gratitude-tinted spectacles!
Corinne, how refreshing your attitude is! To be grateful while experiencing pain and loss is a feat, indeed. I love the idea of being awake. Remaining vulnerable has been a valuable lesson for me. Vulnerability is often viewed as weakness, but because my hope and trust are anchored in God, it changes my perspective about life. I can be truly grateful because the One who knows me best is aware of every aspect of my life.
Thank you, Pam. Oh yes, the whole notion of vulnerability is something I am working on too. One tends to harden your heart when you’ve experienced pain caused by people. But making yourself vulnerable again is the only way to stay real and present.
When we’re open to the Divine, our experiences make so much more sense.
I love that you equate gratitude with being awake. It is being aware of all we have. Being in the moment is something for me to be grateful for when I remember.
Yes, it’s the remembering to be aware that takes some learning. It’s easier to be aware in some situations and harder in others. I guess the fact that we’re trying is what is important.
Hi Corinne, I love the writing of David White and will copy and treasure the one you mentioned in your post. “Gratitude is not a passive response to something given to us, gratitude is being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without us.”
Your smile and your fortitude have awakened much in your life and I congratulate you on the pathway to positive living that inspires you and anyone reading this. Beth
I’m glad you like the quote, Beth. It really spoke to me.
Thank you for your kind words!
Hi Corine, what a valuable reminder. How much can one person take? That’s what I was thinking when I was reading this and the fact that you remained grateful in the thick of it is awesome. The quote is beautiful. It’s being aware and not just saying “well, I’m thankful for _____” but really noticing the little joys everyday. Like you mentioned your fresh Aloe soap and your spices for cooking….those are the things we must take pleasure in. Thanks for the inspiration today! Thanks for sharing Corine, Kathy 🙂 & hope you’re having a wonderful holiday!
Nice to see you here, Lisa. Gratitude became my way of coping and I’m glad that it is slowly becoming a part of my daily living.
Corinne, thank you for the beautiful reminder.
In particular, I appreciate what you say about having gratitude for all things–even for what we may be inclined to label as difficult or “bad”. Nothing is “bad” unless we make it so because it’s as you say, there are “blessings in everything”.
Thanks, TO. I call this ‘radical gratitude’ and I found it works fantastically for me. Helps me see that ‘everything works for good’.