BS’D
Missing the millions of blessings
Gratitude is a state of mind that arises when you affirm a good thing in your life that comes from outside yourself, or when you notice and relish little pleasures. Though some people and things are clear blessings, this state of mind doesn’t actually depend on your life circumstances. Whether it’s the sight of a lovely face or a tasty bite of food or good health, there is always something to be grateful for. Even bad experiences at least teach us something. And gratitude is not just a feeling outside your control that arrives willy-nilly. It’s more like a radio channel: you can choose at any time to tune in.
Gratitude acknowledges connection, and perhaps for this reason it is central to Torah living. When we contemplate our place in the complex make-up of this world, we feel wonder and joy. That realization leads us to be thankful.
Why is it that we don’t go through our days feeling thankful for the countless blessings we are experiencing all the time? Focusing on whatever is going wrong causes us to miss the millions of blessings we receive every day. Today, let’s try to shift focus.
By Yael Zvia Bauer
