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!
• Something Visual •
Ideally, I’d like to give you a video in the five minute range plus or minus a couple of minutes, but I was simply unable to find anything new of any value that I would want to share that was in this range. (And I refuse to post a video of Nick Jonas doing “Appreciate.”)
I did, however, find a ludicrously long (43 minutes) but actually very interesting video, if you can spend the time on it: At Truveo, Professor Dacher Keltner, the director of The Greater Good Science Center, speaks about a surprising physiologic aspect of positive emotions in “Dacher Keltner in Conversation.” In this, he addresses the question “Why have we evolved positive emotions like gratitude, amusement, awe and compassion?”
• From The “League of Gratitude” •
As mentioned previously, I’ve added a new category of links I call The “League of Gratitude,” folks that have been frequent contributors to Gratitude Watch.
Jonathan at The Year of Gratitude (Twitter user @jmagid) gives us “This Just Very Quickly,” on being grateful for being the last man standing in his work group, and for the wisdom he has gained amidst the chaos.
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Julie Obermiller at Sunny side Up, in between championing understanding and the power of donuts (read her posts about the controversy around a Dunkin Donuts in Lockport, New York), gives us another gratitude quote.
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Brenda Arnall at It’s a New Day gives us “Gratitude Gifts” and points out simple gifts all too often are more powerful than the grandiose. She also gives us another page in her gratitude journal craft project.
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Edward Mills, at Evolving Times (Twitter user @edwardmills), gives us “Understanding The Expanding Cycle Of Abundance And Gratitude,” and explains the value of being fully present when receiving the gratitude of others.
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Valerie Saurer at The Attitude of Gratitude Project (Twitter user @valerie_saurer).gives us “What is Enough?: On Gaining Perspective Through Gratitude,” and explains to us that, even to us striving to get back to the American Dream of mindless abundance that there is such a thing as enough.
(How can this be?)
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Our latest addition to “the League” is Covenant Zone, which debuted here last edition with the article “Gratitude Builds A Home For A Hero.” This week, Charles Henry at the Zone gives us “When Gratitude Is Music To Our Ears,” commenting on the thankfulness expressed by a violinist to the staff of the hospital that saved his arm. The article links to the original report at Townhall.com, Betsy Taylor’s “Violinist plays for those who saved his arm.”
• This is The New Stuff •
Jennifer F. at Conversion Diary gives us “The Beauty of a Store List,” a recognition of the tremendous abundance available to nearly everyone who can read her (and my) words, and a recognition of help that day in finding gratitude again.
(I discovered this post inspired commentary at both The Point and at Acton Institute PowerBlog.)
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Colleen Perry at The Huffington Post gives us some solid guidance on applying a specific step of 12-Step thinking to body image. dieting, and eating disorders: “Step #5: Practice Gratitude Daily.”
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The Gravy Train at restaurant review blog The Knife forks over “On Eating For Free; or, Gratis Means Gratitude,” a thank you from a freelance restaurant reviewer for the meals he wouldn’t have been able to pay for to review. (Very thoughtful.)
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Barry L. Newbold at Barry’s Blog gives us “A Gift of Gratitude,” a little reminder how much the expression of gratitude — even the little ones — can mean to the recipient.
• Oldy but Goody •
A couple of weeks back, Raj (Twitter user @raj_bokdia) at Random Wisdom (you made me work to find your name, guy … sheesh) gives us “The magic of appreciation!” — and points out how easy it is to make someone’s day (though admittedly not the way Dirty Harry would like it).
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Stay tuned for the next Gratitude Watch.
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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.
© 2009, by Daniel Brenton. All Rights Reserved.
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