Ripples #757: Gratitude!

Ripples #757: Gratitude!
For our tribe of busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
25 Nov 2013

PEBBLE:
Every once in awhile God allows you to stub your toe
as a kind reminder to be grateful
for the miraculous body attached to it.
-Richelle E. Goodrich, shared by Suzan in Lincoln, NE

BOULDER:
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
-Ralph Marston, shared by Bev in Madison, WI

PONDER:
In just a few days, those of us here in the USA arrive at our Thanksgiving holiday which kicks off our winter holiday season.  For the past 13 years (!), we've focused one issue on gratitude (and in case you missed it last week, a list of *all* the previous Thanksgiving quotes is available by sending a blank email to: Thanks@TheRipplesGuy.com).

I recently challenged some of my Facebook buddies to try expressing gratitude for the less pleasant parts of their lives to see if it might amplify the effectiveness of gratitude.  The results astounded me, as people were able to find some thanks-worthy nuggets amidst even the really blechy stuff.  Several courageous people reported that reserves of inner strength, external support, and unexpected benefits were hidden within what was initially perceived as "no good can possibly come from something this awful."

I'll be happy if you can take note and find gratitude withing the good stuff in your life, but I dare you this week to sample from the buffet of "gratitude for the tough stuff" and see if it might be worth experiencing.

Peace,
Paul
P.S.  Please know that I am beyond grateful for your quote submissions, your testimonials, and your companionship through 757 weeks of unleashing Ripples.  You are the gravy that has made this buffet so delicious, so delightful.