A Matter of Perspective

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend.
~Melody Beattie

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How was your Day? When asked, most people will respond without giving much thought. A typical response is “OK” or “Alright.” It is only when something extraordinary occurs that you might hear “Great.”

The next time someone asks you, “How was your day?” … Try not to respond with a rote response. Instead, respond enthusiastically with, “Great,” even if it does not appear that anything extraordinary happened. Why, respond so enthusiastically? … Because, your ordinary day is really an extraordinary day. It is all a matter of perspective.

When you woke up this morning, did you wake up in a bed, with a roof over your head? Seems pretty ordinary doesn’t. Why, because we take it for granted. But, to a homeless person who sleeps under a card board box, one night’s sleep in your bed would be a “great” experience. It is all a matter of perspective!

Were you able to get out of bed and get yourself dressed this morning? Seems pretty ordinary doesn’t it? Why, because we take it for granted. But, to a bed-ridden patient, getting up on your own and dressing yourself would be a “great” experience. It is all a matter of perspective!

Did you have a choice regarding what you would eat today? Seems pretty ordinary doesn’t it? Why, because we take it for granted. But, to someone starving in the streets, having food, let alone a choice of food, would be a “great” experience. It is all a matter of perspective!

Are you able to see and hear nature’s beauty? Seems pretty ordinary doesn’t it? Why, because we take it for granted. But, to a blind person, watching the sun set would be a “great” experience; to a deaf person, listening to birds sing would be a “great” experience. It is all a matter of perspective!

I could continue, but, I’m quite sure you get the picture. We have so many things to be thankful for. Yet, we seem to take them for granted. The sad truth is we really do not appreciate what we have until it is gone. And, when it is gone, it is too late. Another sad truth is spending so much time and energy chasing after all the things we don’t have, instead of being thankful for the things we do have. Stop the chase, be thankful and enjoy what you have. You already live like royalty. Don’t believe me, just ask a person residing in a third-world country. It is all a matter of perspective.

If we think about it, we really have been blessed abundantly. The Good Book tells us, “give thanks always and in everything.” For it is when we are thankful for our blessings that an ordinary day is transformed into an extraordinary day. So the next time you are asked, “How was your day?” you will have a multitude of reasons to enthusiastically state “Today was Great!”

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It's your life: Live it, Love it, & Celebrate it!
MJD