Use The Gratitude Wand To Uncover Hidden Gifts

 ‘How long am I going to be washing dishes, clothes and cleaning rooms?’ complained Rahul over phone. ‘Because of the lockdown I can’t even go out. I hate this.’

‘Whoa,’ said Rakesh. ‘If you think like that, it’ll get worse for you Rahul.’

‘I’m locked in, doing my maid’s job,’ said Rahul. ‘Can’t get worse bhaiyya.’

‘Is there a way to make things better bhaiyya?’ said Rinku. ‘Many of my friends also feel the same way. Everyone’s frustrated.’

‘Well, my aunt taught me a simple way that changes the situation completely,’ said Rakesh. ‘Even better, we can even get a surprise gift out of every trouble we face. Want to try?’

‘Oh yes bhaiyya,’ said Rahul.

‘Ok,’ said Rakesh. ‘List down all the things you’re missing badly now.’

‘The maid,’ said Rahul. ‘Going out, meeting friends, college, playing, our canteen.’

‘Classes,’ said Rinku. ‘Walks, eating chaat, meeting cousins, grandmother, a normal life without being scared of what will happen if I touch something.’

‘There,’ said Rakesh. ‘So many gifts.’

‘What?’ said Rahul. ‘These are things we’re missing bhaiyya. Where’s are the gifts in being locked in and doing the maids work?’

‘You won’t find your gift if you’re upset Rahul,’ smiled Rakesh. ‘You need to look differently. Why’re you mad at things you were happy to have all these days?’

’Because we don’t have them anymore,’ said Rinku.                          

‘Ever wondered why you don’t have them anymore?’ asked Rakesh. ‘What if more things were taken away from you? Things you have now? Now, can you see your gift?’

‘No bhaiyya,’ said Rinku.

‘Okay dudes, the keyword is gratitude,’ laughed Rakesh. ‘You can find the gift only if you look with gratitude. Now?’

Rahul and Rinku thought for a moment.

‘We took all those things for granted,’ said Rinku. ‘As our privilege. The lockdown is showing us their value. We never recognised the gifts we had.’

Rahul nodded.

‘Yes,’ nodded Rakesh. ‘To find the gift in any situation, be grateful for what you have. When we’re grateful for what we have, however little, our gift grows into something beautiful. On the other hand, when we’re ungrateful and take people and things for granted, we lose the precious gift we have. Any ideas of how to practice being grateful?’

‘Stop complaining,’ said Rahul. ‘And be grateful to everything I have. My family, comforts at home, grocer, watchman, police, doctors, the government.’

‘I’m making a list of all the people in my life,’ said Rinku. ‘Family, friends, teachers, coaches, helpers..and thanking them. It’s a long list. I feel good already.’

‘Great,’ said Rakesh. ‘And be grateful to nature, even the virus, for bringing us together and making us aware of what we have. Know what, even chai tastes better when we’re grateful to the stove, gas, water, grocer. There’s so much to be grateful for. How can we stay mad?’

Pro Tip: There’s a hidden gift in every experience, especially the difficult ones. To uncover the gift, practice being grateful for what you have.

 

Exercise: Take a book and pen and list all the things you are grateful for in your life, all the people you are grateful for in your life. The list can go into hundreds. While there, pick three people who you are angry with, and write ten things you are grateful to them about.