Gratitude Watch – 2009-01-09 — The Meaning of Existence (and all that)

Welcome to Gratitude Watch.

Gratitude Watch is an eye on the internet for news, articles, videos, and other items, all focusing on the subject of gratitude. For more on my intent on these postings, see About Gratitude Watch.

So … let’s rock!

• This is The New Stuff •

First, something visual …

Another video from YouTube user letterstomyfather: “I want to thank you for not being afraid,” featuring “Thank You” by Ryan Huston. If this seems familiar, well … it’s a different, shorter version of “Letters To My Father – Love and Gratitude,” which I featured on December 29th.

(What can I say … I like the sentiment.)

•

I’m starting something a little different with this edition of Gratitude Watch — I’ve added a new category of links I call “The ‘League of Gratitude’.” Generally these are folks who I’ve encountered that I have linked to at least twice for their articles or resources on the subject of gratitude.

From the “League” this Week:

We’ve already had something from our newest “leaguer,” letterstomyfather.

Jonathan at The Year of Gratitude gives us a “Don’t Blink,” a beautiful message about being present with a grateful heart. (Find the tissues before you start this one. You might need them.)

•

Julie Obermiller at Sunny Side Up give us “Thanks by Proxy?” — a recognition of the wisdom or know-how imparted to her by others, the growth of character she received through their mentorship, and her choice to show her thanks by extending these gifts to others.

While you’re there, you’ll find four quotes about gratitude, here, here, here. and here.

•

In “Gratitude Watch 2009-01-04″ I mentioned Brenda Arnall’s It’s a New Day. In her latest there, “B.G.O.F.” (“Be Grateful on Fridays”), she reflects on the blessing of the internet, and shares a PDF gratitude note pattern and instructions for a home-made gratitude journal — for those of you who are more craft-able than I am … which is probably just about everyone.

Brenda graciously mentions yours truly and Gratitude Watch on “The Messages” page of The Gratitude Project, and has included this site as an inspirational resource. (Thank you, Brenda.)

Brenda sees The Gratitude Project as an adaptation of the 52 Blessings group on Flickr (see “Oldies but Goodies” below).

New from the World Wide Web:

Christine Carter, Ph.D. at the Half Full Science for Raising Happy Kids blog, gives us a retrospective “Ten 2008 Tips for Raising Happy Kids.” Item ten probably is no surprise — Christine participated in a video produced by Half Full I featured in the December 2nd Gratitude Watch … about teaching children gratitude.

•

Funny stuff from Whim Sick at Today’s Gratitude Suggestion: “6.” To describe it would ruin it. 1 through 5 are pretty funny, too.

(Mr. Whim, you are one strange puppy, and we love you for it.)

•

A very interesting and candid post from Melissa Goerke at Melissa Thinks Out Loud: “The Self Improvement Trap and How to Get Free.” Some commentary and solutions when we discover to our horror we’ve become so immersed in the personal development mindset that we get stuck.

(She even trades the gratitude journal for the saying of grace before meals. Hmmmm … Is it possible to have too much gratitude?)

(Naaaaah!)

•

Lemy Yusento at Lemy’s Lessons of Life gives us “Your 7 Days Program to Positive Thinking,” with seven points to remember, the fourth of which being … anyone?

•

Lisa Harrison of Awaken Your Prosperity gives us some no-frills straight talk with “Law of Attraction: Gratitude.”

•

Now, something poetic …

YouTube user NetCastNowdotNet gives us a video version of the Emily Simpson’s moving “Experience Gratitude.” (The original audio is available in a downloadable form at www.YogaPoetry.com.)

• Oldies but Goodies •

The 52 Blessings group on Flickr, is a group where members upload photographs of that which they are grateful, and provide commentary as to why. Though there’s 365 members, I suspect they might have room for a few more.

I’d share an image or two, but the group preferences won’t let me. Can’t even copy them to thumbnail them. Sorry.

• • •

If you have a substantive original posting about gratitude (please see my “About Gratitude Watch” page) feel free to email me a link through my contact page, or “tweet” me on Twitter.

•

Stay tuned for the next Gratitude Watch.