“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
– David Steindl-Rast

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”
– Alphonse Karr

A few years ago around this time of the year I wrote a post about being grateful. I shared a link to a video that I share here again.

It’s a TED Talk by a gentleman named Louie Schwartzberg, a photographer who specializes in time-lapse images. Years ago he created a video with his imagery and featuring two people, one a young girl and the other a Benedictine monk, David Steindl-Rast, who is now 96 years old. Louie introduces the video in this talk, and then turns things over to the young girl and the monk for a mesmerizing discussion of the beauty of the world and what it means to be grateful. I have returned to this video many, many times over the years, and it always has the same effect and never gets old.  (note – you can also find TED talks by David Steindl-Rast)

Please take ten minutes and watch the video.

The world often seems crazy, especially so these last few years.  It’s easy to lose sight of the blessings we experience, every day, in lives that are full of to-dos, problems, crises, and annoyances. It’s so easy to notice and react to the problems. This video is an antidote for all of that. I hope you get as much from it as I do, and put it into practice.

To get started on putting it into practice, if you are a colleague, a client, a supplier, or a friend, thank you.

I’ve already thanked my kids today for being a blessing. I’m lucky to have my Dad (97 years old), my brother, and my sister-in-law staying with us for the holiday, and I’m going to thank them, too. And my very next step is to go upstairs and tell my wife, Jennifer,  I am grateful for her.

Enjoy!