It was like something out of a TV commercial. I overslept, causing me to be late for an important meeting. In the shower, I got shampoo in my eyes, so when I reached for the toothpaste I grabbed the pimple cream by mistake (sad but true!).
Then my printer jammed, and while I was pleading desperately with the progress report lodged stubbornly in the depths of technological complexity, the foolproof one-touch toaster was cheerfully incinerating my breakfast. Next, I couldn’t find the leopard-print pumps to match my handbag.
To top it all off, my car wouldn’t start, and as I hurtled my tardy self across my busy street, dodging small women in large 4x4s, my handbag strap broke, sending bits and pieces of my life scattering through the rush-hour traffic.
I sank down on the curb and decided that this would be as good a time as any to start smoking. But I couldn’t buy any cigarettes since my purse was busy being flattened by an array of tires with an astonishingly accurate course.
Days like this are sent to remind us that we’re merely human; we’re not in as much control as we’d like to think.
I guess that’s why gratitude is built into the very structure of everyday Jewish life. The first thing we say in the morning is an expression of gratitude for waking up to a brand new day. We thank God for the food we eat and the clothes we wear.
Related article: Mastering the Gratitude Attitude
I love that we have special prayers and blessings for seeing a rainbow, for hearing thunder, for the seeing the ocean.
I thought about how amazing it is to thank God for these everyday miracles and wondered why more people weren’t grateful for their lot in life. As I sat there pondering, inhaling exhaust fumes, I thought of one of the morning blessings: “Blessed are You, God… Who gives sight to the blind.” We’re not just talking about eyesight, but insight.
And then the obvious hit me: gratitude is all about attitude. The happiest person in the world isn’t the one who has the most, but who makes the most of what she has. The Sages in Ethics of the Fathers said it best: “Who is rich? He who is content with his lot” (and I’m pretty sure they mean “hers” too).
I realized how lucky I am that I have toast to burn, shoes to choose from, and my own car (temperamental though she is) to take me places. God sends us days like this to remind us not to take these things for granted. And because He has a sense of humor.
To quote a well-known platitude: the trick is to be grateful on the good days, and graceful on the tough ones.
Getting into the gratitude groove can seem a little intimidating – all that focusing on positive energy and finding the good in people can seem a little burdensome! But you don’t need new-aged meditation and alternative therapies. It’s as easy as saying “thank you.”
When you start focusing your energy on appreciating the good in life, you’ll have little time left to dwell on the bad.
Say it to the lady who packs your bags at the supermarket. Say it to the guy who lets you into the traffic. Say it to the person who makes you tea at the office. Say it to your folks for fetching you from school. Say it to your spouse for making dinner. Say it to your kids for bringing joy into your life. And say it to God for giving you another day to appreciate all these little miracles.
You’ll find that when you start focusing your energy on appreciating the good in life, you’ll have little time left to dwell on the bad.
So sitting there on the side of the road as I texted my apologies for the meeting, I noticed that the sun was shining. I had my health, close family and good friends. I had a warm, loving home. A little bird chirruped gleefully in the tree above me, and as I looked up to admire it, it dropped me a little present (sad but true). Yup, I mused as I wiped my face, it’s just one of those days. And I’m grateful for it.
(15) Ashley, November 16, 2010 9:15 PM
This was a beautiful article. It made me tear up. I'm sending it to my whole family! Thank you!
(14) Jo Bernstein, October 27, 2010 10:03 PM
.
It is very lucky to have a bird drop doo doo on you. Even more to be grateful for. Your articles are wonderfully written and inspiring.
(13) Yael, October 24, 2010 6:25 AM
wonderful - thank you
thank you very much for this wonderful start to the week.
(12) Keren, October 22, 2010 6:19 AM
Thank You Lauren!
Thank you Lauren for a very well written and witty article. I loved it. It made me laugh and helped me feel comforted that others have also had "one of those days"...to be THANKFUL!!! :)
(11) Anonymous, October 21, 2010 11:33 AM
Stop smoking!
Lauren, you are so pretty, you should live to 120 and enjoy all of your blessings. Don't, G-d forbid, cut your life short with cigarettes!
(10) laraine gluckman, October 19, 2010 9:02 PM
unfortunately, we do need to be reminded to be grateful for all our blessings. thanks to Lauren Shapiro for this article - again, so well written.
(9) Emily Jarvis, October 19, 2010 5:50 AM
LOL!
Lol, you make me LOL! Great writing, and I chackled while I was simultaneously learning - how wonderful to have a thanksgiving prayer for every occasion!
(8) Saul Pillai, October 19, 2010 3:53 AM
Great Article...
Loved reading this. Thanks a million... :-) We've all had hellish days.... but to see the blessings in it and be grateful is devine... "I love that we have special prayers and blessings for seeing a rainbow, for hearing thunder, for the seeing the ocean." Might I suggest to aish.com to compile the various blessings and place in on aish.com. I'm sure many would like to read it in English. I know I would... Thanks once again....
(7) Jewish Mama, October 18, 2010 3:04 PM
You passed your test!
Yup! I saw a poem, Thank you Lord for all these dirty dishes, it means we have food to eat. Thank you Lord for all this laundry, it means we have nice clothes to wear... <3
(6) Leah, October 18, 2010 12:29 AM
hysterical
yes, I get the message behind this article, yet this is the most hysterical articel. I can just picture this whole thing unfolding!
(5) SusanE, October 17, 2010 7:52 PM
Loved Your Story.
Funny how things snowball from one small happening and change your entire day. What a lucky woman you are that you have a reason to not oversleep. Many people must find a new reason each morning just to get out of bed. My sister and I were grousing one day about something we thought we wanted and it was something trivial. Another friend joined in and another. It was mostly joking about these things, You know how it goes 'poor us and woe are we'. I don't know what made me say it, but I began counting all the great stuff about my life in a light way. Then said about the great stuff in my sisters life. And then the others began 'counting their blessings' . Laughter took place of our silliness. I thank G-d everyday for his patience, and his sense of humor. G-d has given us everything we need. You are a wise woman to know that, and very generous for telling us your story. Thanks for writing it so well!
(4) Anonymous, October 17, 2010 7:10 PM
bird droppings onto you are supposed to be a sign of good luck. i feel like im ahving one of those days too many days lately, so its god to put it into perspective, thanks!!
(3) Natalie, October 17, 2010 6:41 PM
Lauren I loved your article it felt so haimish then I read why! Hello fellow South African!!! hope to read more of your articles here :)
(2) Cheryl Unterslak, October 17, 2010 4:56 PM
What a gift from Hashem to be able to communicate something so important in such an honest, humerous and meaningful way. Wonderful!!!!
(1) dina, October 17, 2010 4:28 PM
So funny and true!
Cute, funny article- made me smile and reminded me how much we all have to be gratefule for. Thanks!