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THE 5 COMPONENTS OF GRATITUDE

Nov 24, 2021

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I love comic strips and admire the talent & imagination of the artists.

In this article, we try to pin down the key components of GRATITUDE (using comic strips & quotes) because a TEAM full of “grateful hearts” has a chance to chase their dreams to dare greatly, strive valiantly & pursue excellence. The 5 (five) components of gratitude I chose are:

  1. JOY
  2. GUARDING AGAINST ENVY (CHEER DON’T COMPARE)
  3. LIVING IN THE PRESENT
  4. RETURNING KINDNESS TO OTHERS
  5. FEELING “IT” WITH YOUR HEART.

Let’s start with JOY!

The overflow of gratitude is JOY! Realizing our abundant blessings, even during hard times, is a gateway for JOY! Let our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with songs of joy.

Gratitude guards against “envy”. Envy makes us jealous & petty & resentful of what someone else has. Gratitude makes us realize we have been given so many wonderful opportunities. We sometimes have been blessed with far more than we deserve. There is PLENTY — enough for everyone. Let’s cheer rather than compare. A HEART WHOLLY GRATEFUL HAS NO ROOM LEFT FOR ENVY.

In the worry and rush of life, gratitude helps us appreciate and live in the present. Gratitude helps us SLOW DOWN and opens our eyes and hearts to the simple beauty of ORDINARY. THIS MOMENT, RIGHT NOW, THIS BREATH IS A GIFT. Take in the abundance of our blessings we enjoy RIGHT NOW.

Developing a grateful heart brings us an awareness of others contributions to us. When we acknowledge what others have done for us by sharing with us their time, talents & treasures, we proclaim a personal connection to our team, our community, our neighbors, and our world around us. The contentment and peace of gratitude comes not from what we have, but from the love we receive and return to others.

We are truly GRATEFUL, THANKFUL & BLESSED!

The best things come from within us and are FELT WITH OUR HEARTS — they are unseeable and untouchable; the feelings of beauty create an awe within us. Feel the beauty of gratitude and allow it to reach deep down within you and really make a difference in how you see something; let it take your breath away; let it sink in & move you because it is felt with your heart. FEEL THE GREATNESS; FEEL THE BEAUTY; FEEL THE GRATITUDE!

In team sports, THANKSGIVING & GRATITUDE should be a “daily exercise”, celebrated every practice & every game, and sometimes even every at bat & every pitch, instead of just once a year. Gratitude is one of those MINDSETS & PERSPECTIVES that make good players GREAT, and mediocre teams CHAMPIONS.

PURSUE EXCELLENCE & WIN THE NEXT PITCH!