A series of essays....
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| EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THE BEAUTY OF NATURE; MOST GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO CHOOSES TO KEEP IT THIS WAY! |
....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E Hughes
THANKFULNESS
and gratitude are the two words that we often use to express the benefits we receive in life. Most people do not fully understand the difference between the two, yet each finds its way into our day-to-day life, one way or another; opening the door to joy and happiness as we go about our daily business. We are thankful for the kind gestures bestowed upon us as when someone treats us kindly and with a smile on their face, allows us to go ahead in a long line, or passes the butter to you at dinner after asking them politely to do so. Thankfulness usually happens as a reaction from someone’s action and is, generally, not an occurrence at random moments when the mind is set on ‘idle.’ Offering a polite ‘thank you’ for a simple act of kindness is a gregarious expression of your appreciation and is a social norm applicable in general situations. Thankfulness is often associated with either words or a gesture of appreciation; a ‘tip of an imaginary hat’ act of kindness to be bestowed upon another human being in good faith.
Gratitude is the special manifestation of spirituality, love, and affection. Being grateful is a very intense sense of feeling that happens at a deeper level and comes from within your heart and very depths of your soul. Thankfulness can often be the first step and then we manifest approval and great emotion as we appreciate the people and things that have been of genuine assistance to us in this lifetime. Perhaps it is being grateful for the faithful pair of hiking shoes that have seen you climb a mountain or two, or expressing gratefulness to a spouse who has always been there for you through the ups and downs that life has to offer, or expressing our gratitude towards the sister-in-law who has devoted much of her precious time to her beautiful Mother suffering from dementia for many years. Gratitude is the act of being authentic towards someone by showing love, commitment, and devotion for the meaningful relationship you share. Think of it as if our minds and hearts give birth to the belief that others help us feel good about ourselves, share experiences, and promote the understanding that the universe has conspired to connect us together, then we can feel grateful from within and express our feelings even without the use of words or gestures. It is possible to express how we feel about our own financial blessings and transfer this feeling of gratefulness on by paying for a stranger’s meal. The act of gratefulness can live on in our memory indefinitely, always there to remind us of those we feel grateful toward many years later; suddenly recalling the importance of our loved ones no matter how many years transpire since the last physical reunion.
To be a thankful person is a benefit in life that we should never take for granted. Practicing the art of gratefulness is a step above and beyond thankfulness. Combined, it is the best way to live a fulfilling and enriched lifestyle and the key to happiness is keeping gratitude at the forefront of everything we do. We cannot afford to be thankless or ungrateful for all of the good in our lives, especially now when many lives are feeling the pressure of despair, depression, and hopelessness within a very thankless world. I will always be eternally thankful for the nutritious variety of food that is painstakingly prepared for our Thanksgiving feast either by myself or in conjunction with the people I love. And, I am most grateful for all of those same people who graciously surround me with their kindness and affection, making this particular holiday so special. When we focus on how privileged we are, it makes it easier to want to bless others and express our deep sense of appreciation toward all of the good in the world around us.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE! MAY YOU ALWAYS BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS IN YOUR LIFE...!
Photo taken in September of 2019 at Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve in Arcadia, Michigan.
Copyright © 2019 by Jacqueline E Hughes
All rights reserved
