One Step Closer to Perfection

Somewhere between 563 and 483 B.C., Siddhartha Gautama– otherwise known as the Buddha– remarked, “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” Just cultivating this sort of radical, all-encompassing sense of gratitude is a truly Herculean task, and one constantly at risk of being undermined by the legions of inconveniences and frustrations most of us experience on a daily basis.  Expressing it?  Well, that just takes it to a whole new level.  Fortunately for you, we’re making the radical expression of gratitude a one-day-only task, AND we’re assigning it on a Friday.  Isn’t our benevolence astounding?

Studies consistently show that gratitude has a “significant, consistent, and sizeable effect” on our overall levels of happiness.  In fact, researchers that study happiness in human beings note that the kinds of things that most people focus on to improve their happiness “do not have the consistent effects that we might expect.” Gratitude, on the other hand, appears to have precisely the sort of long-term effect on our overall well-being that we seek.

Additionally, our feelings of gratitude have the ability to improve the overall well-being of others.  This is entirely obvious.  If there is one universal human experience, it’s probably the desire to feel loved and appreciated by others.  Hence, today’s Baby Step… expressing gratitude.  We’re not requiring an Academy Award acceptance speech, just one sincere expression of gratitude to one other person.  Here are the ground rules:

• Your expression of gratitude must be sincere.  For instance, telling your vageuly sociopathic boss that you are grateful that she didn’t totally ruin your day would not count.
• Your expression of gratitude should be relatively specific.  Thus, “thanks for being you,” is unacceptable (as well as ridiculously cheesy).
• Your expression of gratitude should be in person, if possible.  Phone and e-mail are acceptable if that’s not feasible.

That’s it!  You’ll be happy.  They’ll be happy.  You have the next two days off from work… What more could you want? (Ha! Trick Question! We’re working towards radical gratitude for what we already HAVE, right?).

3 gold starts for your first expression of gratitude.  5 more for each additional one you’re inspired to make.  18 points for laughing at my trick question joke (I like to be appreciated, too, you know).