Today I share a re-post, courtesy of D.K. Brainard’s Words For the People. D.K. lives and works in New Orleans and is, among other things, a perceptive astrologer. But aside from that, he writes on subjects that interest me and we share many perspectives.
In fact, I was just sitting at my desk catching up on my overloaded Google Reader, and feeling incredibly grateful to be listening to Willie Nelson playing a new Austin City Limits show on my TV in the background. Willie has been part of the fabric of my universe for so long, and as I listened tonight, I felt enveloped by the warm feeling we get from those family members whose presence always makes us feel oh so stable and secure. As I was silently sending out thanks that Willie just keeps on going no matter how many years go by, I found this post in my reader.
So I guess what I’m saying is…turkey is NOT required for experiencing thankfulness in my life…how about yours?
The Problem With Thanksgiving
By D. K. Brainard
I was talking about abundance with Aoghain Lakes, the Irish healer I work with at Eternal Balance in Royal Oak. He said, “The secret to manifesting abundance is so simple. It’s gratitude and optimism, and that’s all it is.” Americans, he said, have a hard time getting this because we’re so programmed to believe in the American Dream.
“Americans think, ‘When I get the American Dream, then I can be happy and fulfilled.’ But that’s not the way it works! The way it works is, when you are thankful for every moment in your life, then you will be far happier and wealthier than you could ever imagine by going after the American Dream.”
To Aoghain’s mind, when Americans say “thank you” we are often saying it out of a sense of social obligation — we say it because it’s good manners and then we feel pleased with ourselves for remembering. Whereas when people in other parts of the world say “thank you,” you can really feel the power of their gratitude.
I’ve been reflecting on our conversation this weekend and I’ve come to two conclusions:
(1) Americans aren’t un-grateful by nature; we’ve actually been systematically brainwashed to believe that being “good” means always striving for more.
(2) The other reason we find it so hard to express genuine gratitude is because most of us don’t know what it feels like to truly live in want.
