The Quality of Gratitude
“Of my own life and writings I estimate the giving thanks part, with what it infers, as essentially the best item. I should say the quality of gratitude rounds the whole emotional nature; I should say love and faith would quite lack vitality without it.”
It’s turkey week, people! I’ve been reading Whitman this week and thinking about gratitude from his “The Place of Gratitude Fills in a Fine Character.”
I’m sitting in the grimy Greyhound station right now–a glorified fluorescent, blue-tiled hallway filled with all sorts of odd and interesting people. Add a “restaurant” counter never open, sterile metal benches, and small posters tacked to large walls: one says try our chicken sandwich in Arial font, the other an impressionist “painting” of a French café intended to make the space classier, yet somehow makes it more depressing.
But I don’t care. I have a weird affection for the Greyhound station, because people are going places, and travel creates a buzz. I’m so excited to go home today and spend time with my family!
So, as I’m sitting at this bus gate, I’m somehow thinking about gratitude. I definitely don’t express my gratitude for people and aspects of my life enough, both to others and to myself.
Here are 11 things I’m grateful for right now:
- My sister Peyton’s wit and compassion
- My brother Kai’s fiery personality and unfettered passions
- My dad’s intellect and gentle patience
- My mom’s inexhaustible kindness and goofy laughter
- Incredible music and its power to heal
- Continuing my love of singing in college with the best group of people
- Movie nights knitting like grandmas with my roommates
- Traveling to visit friends in the cool places they live
- The opportunity to study a subject I love at a school I love
- Few, but full friendships
- Excitement for upcoming travel/studying adventures
Looking forward to the week (ok, the food) ahead! By the way, if you do shop on Black Friday, you should shop these ethical brands instead. I’m trying to do a better job of supporting our planet and those who labor for us. Alright, my bus is boarding now–on to Cincy!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
