Sunday Story…Attitude of Gratitude

One of the best practices I have found to keep myself on track and centered is gratitude. When we feel gratitude and express it for the things we have, the things we're doing, the things around us, it allows our outlook to soften and become more inclusive. I am grateful for the beautiful day I see around me. I am thankful for the body I live in, which moves so well, that has supported me for all these years, and for all the things I have done. I have gratitude for the people around me. The things they do, the things that they've taught me, the things that I have managed to understand and receive from them.

Years ago, in the San Francisco Bay Area, there were several restaurants called The Gratitude Cafe. The real fun and connective part of The Gratitude Cafe was that all the dishes had writing around the edges and at the bottom that were affirmations: "You are wonderful!" "You are beautiful!" "You are strong!" All the items on the menu carried the same kinds of messages. "You are beautiful!" It was a milkshake made with almond milk, nuts, and this and that. And when you ordered it, the server repeated it. So, you said, "I'll have an 'I am beautiful,'" and the servers would say, "One 'I am beautiful'!" And then the kitchen would be constantly yelling these things out: "I am beautiful!" "You are wonderful!" Things like that, and when they brought it to the table, same thing: "You are wonderful!" "You are beautiful!" It was an experience in gratitude, thus the name Gratitude Cafe.

The food was secondary to the experience that you left with, which was one of gratitude. Gratitude may be the single most important attitude you can bring into the world. Expressing gratitude out loud to the people around me inspires them to find gratitude as well. We can always find gratitude even in the worst circumstances. This is the meaning of finding a silver lining in every cloud. There's always something to be grateful for, even in the darkest days. As Viktor Frankl points out, "The one freedom nobody can ever take away from you is your freedom to choose your attitude," and that means the freedom to choose an attitude of gratitude, even in the face of ugliness, trials, and tribulations.

If you're interested in learning how to build muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

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