After writing the Bitter or Grateful post, I decided that if I could cultivate gratitude in 2011, I would be happier. And what better way to cultivate this much-desired trait than to make a commitment out loud. Here it is:
Every day for at least fifteen days (I'm contemplating thirty, but am not ready to commit to that yet), I am going to record something for which I am grateful, my emphasis being not on the incremental, but on what already is.
My reason for focusing on "what is" is two-fold:
1) As an antidote to bitterness, I want to acknowledge the sunshine that never seems to hide its face, the goodness that already abounds in my life. It is easy to forget about anything that is always there. It becomes the air that we breathe. Yet if it were gone, we would die, either literally and/or figuratively.
2) I tend to think if I just had "x" then I could achieve "y" dream. Yet I overlook, even eschew, the embarrassment of resources at hand. By focusing on what is, rather than what's new, my hope is that I'll recognize that bootstrapping my dreams is a real possibility.
Day 1: My husband and children
During my recovery from surgery, I have had one of the pleasantest holidays in memory. That is in large part due to my husband and children. I enjoy strolling in the neighborhood while talking to my husband, sitting on the bed reading Les Miserables while my daughter races through yet another Percy Jackson book, listening to my son practice singing and continually reminding me that he's almost taller than me, and lounging together while watching Burn Notice et al.
I like being with my husband and children. I like how I feel around them. It's so comfortable and safe that sometimes I forget just how valuable they are to me. Which is why I have formalized how I feel about them by giving them a name -- my Harborhaven Advisors.
Johnson family, Cape Cod, September 2010; photo copyright Lanola Kathleen Stone
What are you grateful for?
Is there any resolution that you want to make for 15 days that is readily accomplished giving you an early win in 2011?
P.S. I am also grateful for LaNola Kathleen Stone; she has taken photos of our family every year, except one, for over a decade. She has chronicled our lives, shown us to ourselves -- it has been a gift for which I am deeply appreciative.
I love this. So glad you are doing it, and I can't wait to see the rest of the grateful posts. And I love that you formally named the family as advisers.
Posted by: Macy | January 01, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Before I forget, I always LOVE how you wear your hair! Looking at your family picture reminded me... You're a presentation of beauty whenever I see you.
This is a lovely post--a great goal! I'm trying to make gratitude an ingrained and natural response in my life as well. There's an article in this month's Ensign magazine entitled "The Grapefruit Syndrome" by Lola B. Walters that reminds us to focus on feeling gratitude rather than on the faults of those around us... life is sweeter when we do!
Happy 2011~
Posted by: Jenny | January 01, 2011 at 11:51 AM
You're so wise to focus on "what is" - I haven't thought of examining gratitude from this place before. I doubt there is a better way to cultivate it to a degree that is sustainable - one that undergirds your daily living. Thanks for this Whitney. Also love your family photo and the imagery of you simply "being" together.
I do plan to contact you in the future! Working on a few writing projects I need to offload before I email you. Love to you and yours this New Year!
Posted by: Catherine | January 01, 2011 at 03:37 PM
i end each blog post with three things i'm grateful for. sometimes they are very random and have nothing to do with what i've written about, but it makes me happy to close each post with gratitude.
Gratitude is as essential as air to a happy life.
HNY2U!
Posted by: Blue | January 01, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Whitney you look awesome! Your cradled family around you are capable advisors. I just know that when I am not grateful, discontentment and selfishness govern my thoughts and heart. B's paternal grandmother made a regular habit of writing down her blessings. It was her way of taking stock of what she was grateful to have. I am grateful for the belief I have that there is a purpose for our life. That what we do and say and are does matter. That there are very few coincidences and plenty of tender mercies.
Posted by: Bonnie White | January 02, 2011 at 03:48 AM
Beautiful family! Thank you for another great idea. I will join you in writing down what I'm grateful for the next month!
Posted by: Maria | January 02, 2011 at 05:09 PM
Beautiful picture! Are those coming in the mail? I love that you named them. I love that you're being grateful. It's a purifying thing to do when you're going through trials. Recover well.
Posted by: Amy | January 02, 2011 at 05:31 PM
My resolution this year, if you will, is not to resolve. I am a planner. Hyper vigilant. Type A personality. So my goal is to let things "BE" more. I think of it as similar to feeling grateful for what I have, rather than constantly trying to plan for what will be, or worse...what might be. So here is to resolving...and not...but being grateful all along the way.
Posted by: michelle anthony | January 02, 2011 at 08:56 PM
What a great photo of you guys! And I think your idea to chronicle your gratitude is brilliant. Looking forward to it!
Posted by: Lisle | January 03, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Chronicling gratitude is a great idea and one I may borrow for my own blog. It's true — whatever we focus on expands.
Posted by: Pam_baumeister | January 03, 2011 at 05:42 PM
I'm loving this resolution! Just over a year ago I did a little "gratitude" research and came across a professor at UC Davis who actually teaches a gratitude college course. His research is fascinating to me.
It seems like the writing down of why you are grateful for x,y,z... makes the feelings more concrete and clear. I'm feeling inspired to do this same on my blog. I'll start on my bday this month ("41" sounds like it needs a boost:)).
Posted by: Rebecca | January 05, 2011 at 11:03 AM