Gratitude In My Pocket

In my pants, my wallet, my bookbag, even my Moleskine, there are little pieces of paper. Written on them is one word, gratitude. To some it may seem simplistic, but I have never been as …

In my pants, my wallet, my bookbag, even my Moleskine, there are little pieces of paper. Written on them is one word, gratitude. To some it may seem simplistic, but I have never been as happy as since I started reminding myself how much that I can be thankful for. Sure, I could complain about a lot, but who can’t? I’m loved. I eat well. I travel. I have my health. The daily negativisms have little hope in encroaching on my life as long as I keep armed with a healthy outlook. Complications that use to seem overwhelming are downright trivial compared to the power of gratitude. So yeah, I’m grateful. =)

On a not completely unrelated note, I also keep copies of Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues with me. For the greater part of his adult life, Franklin carried a notebook with him and recorded his daily progress in keeping his 13 virtues. At first this may sound tedious, but I have been focusing great effort of late on Earl Nightingale’s famous quote of “You become what you think about.” and Napoleon Hill’s “If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.” Ben’s list is:

Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

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