For me, the process of living is pretty similar for each of us. For every gain there is a setback. For every step forward (success), a failure. For every moment of joy there is a time of sadness. The balance of events of our lives it much like a pendulum that swings. Every extreme condition is offset by its opposite. Slowly, we learn to appreciate the the gifts on both sides.

Maybe with youth there is not enough “bad times” for most of us. Gratitude came for me later because I was always blessed at home and I didn’t know what I was missing until it was gone.

Yes, there are probably a great number of causes in this, and there would probably be people who would argue that we really aren’t a selfish culture. (It would be a ludicrous argument in my humble opinion, but there would be those who would say it.)

From what little statistical training I have, part of me wants to think about measuring it, but the “inputs” are probably varied, and what “output” would we be measuring? How would we measure success?

I do, however, feel we need success.

(There may be some sociological index that could be interpreted as a “selfishness quotient,” but I know nothing about these things, nor how to quantify them.)

Thank you for the comment, sir.

What room is there for gratitude in that mythology? Gratitude – the appreciation for the resources or gifts that surround you irrespective of your having earned them – seems at first blush to be at odds with all that folklore. I see this changing as more people recognize that as inheritors of America, we stand on the shoulders of every generation that came before. So it is changing and there is an opening for more discussion of gratitude.

Culture changes slowly. But it DOES change. Thanks for being part of the change.
Jonathan

I don’t know but it’s interesting food for thought. Sounds like you’ll have to continue your research in this area and write more in the future.

Oh, all right. If I must.

You raise an excellent point about experience. At the time of the second accident I mentioned, I had been married (and a stepfather) for seven years, which was much more responsibility than I had previously. I could see that the cumulative experience may have predisposed me to recognizing gratitude when I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Thank you for your comment. I’m sure we’ll be communicating again soon.

You’ve raised some interesting points. While I agree that we should make a greater effort to instill a sense of gratitude in our children, I wonder if age doesn’t have as much to do with it as education. When you’re young, you think there will always be time to tell people you love them, to appreciate kindnesses shown to you, and to recognize that life holds many blessings. It may not be one big SEE but a lot of little ones adding up to make us grateful individuals. I think that sum my my personal experiences anyway.

I don’t know but it’s interesting food for thought. Sounds like you’ll have to continue your research in this area and write more in the future.

Thank you for that.

It occurs to me that there may be folks who never “come to gratitude,” no matter how many or how big the S.E.E. might be.

(I’m picturing some very dour people.)

I’m afraid I’m not a psychologist or sociologist (and I don’t play either on television), so honestly I don’t have any real data to back up my thoughts here. Though it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the “positive emotion” psychologists Michael McCullough and Robert Emmons might have their own answers to these kind of questions.

I’m please I’ve provoked some thought and introspection. This is the best I can offer anyone.

Yes, I think I now have to give a great deal of thought to those people in my life whom I consider to be models of gratitude. I need to ask myself if they, too, have a personal SEE.

One wonders though, if there is anyone who has NOT faced personal tragedy, or was it just not tragic enough?