Less Attitude, More Gratitude

When I wake up on Monday morning, all I want to do is go back to sleep. I don’t want to think about going to work, or school, or dealing with any social encounters. I’m exhausted from the weekend, from seeing friend’s I've been neglecting to running errands, doing homework, and making some time for my family. 

“Five more minutes,” I tell my boyfriend when he tells me to get up. What I mean by five more minutes is that I do not want to go to work today. But, I know that I have to, so I drag myself out from under the covers, hop in the shower and begin my day. 

When I’m leaving my house, I’m dreading sitting in the traffic that’s clogging up the interstate. I wish my car could drive itself while I nap on the way to work.

The things I take for granted

I am lucky and privileged enough to have a great paying job (for someone with no degree). I've been there for six months, and although I don’t hate it, it doesn't satisfy me anymore. I find myself becoming more and more bored of my same old routine every day. Most of the time, I think of my job as an annoying responsibility that I have to commit to. But, I should be more grateful to have the opportunity to be able to make money and have a full time, year round position. 

The other thing I take for granted is my car. It’s a 2007 black Toyota Corolla. It has only had one previous owner, and the miles were really low on it when it came to me. My parents bought it for me as a gift when I graduated from high school. I forget sometimes how fortunate I am to have a nice, reliable car that’s great on gas. I don’t take care of my car as well as I ought to. It’s a filthy mess to be honest. Not with trash, but with clothes all over the back seat, and the nasty cigarette stench that fills it from me smoking in it over the years.

The people I am grateful for

There are little day to day things that I've began to noticing more and more after studying gratitude in this course. Things that I used to take for granted, but am now very grateful of.

I am grateful that my parents bought me a car for graduation. I never expected them to do such a thing. My first car was a 1997 Purple Pontiac Sunfire. I had worked all summer when I was 15, and bought the car all on my own. It was totaled a year later, due to rusting underneath. After that, I would borrow my Mom’s car when I could, and I started saving for another car that I had my eye on. I went away with some friends after graduation, and when I came home, my Toyota Corolla was waiting in the driveway for me. I couldn't believe they had bought it for me! I couldn't be more thankful to have parents like them.

I’m unable to park at my job. When I started, I would take a water shuttle that goes directly to my office. I was able to take it for free, because the company I work for ran it. But then my boyfriend started offering to drive me over every morning (its five minutes from his place). He then drops me off, goes to the Dunkin Donuts right down the street, and texts me to come outside because he got me a coffee. I’m so grateful to have such a caring, generous boyfriend. He’s always doing little things like this for me without me even asking him to.

Taking in the good

Instead of feeling stressed out between work and school, I could “take in” the fact that I’m able to commit to both. Not everyone is able to have a job, and not everyone is able to further their education. But I am doing both, and although it can sometimes be overwhelming, I should learn to appreciate the good in both of them (the money, experience, and the knowledge). At first it will have to be a conscious effort for me to take in the good, but soon I will be able to do so without even realizing.

5 Haikus of Gratitude

The land of the free

Home of the brave, U-S-A

Its where I reside

The money I make

The experience I have

They keep me alive

My family and friends

Always there when I'm in need

So glad they love me

The knowledge I gain

From attending the classes

I take in college

Every day I wake

To a sun rising up high

I am so grateful