Thank You

Those two simple words can reorient your life: "thank you."  It's often noted that it is much easier to bitch and moan than to have a truly grateful attitude, and that choosing the easier route will make your life a huge burden of negativity, but somehow it failed to escape me how much others need gratitude and appreciation.

Yesterday, on a FB friend's wall, I saw written, "A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected."  That made me realize how much thanks can mean to other people--which sounds obvious, but honestly, I don't particularly expect or care about being thanked for what I do (though I do like it), so it might not occur to me to be as outwardly grateful to others for what they do.  In fact, making an effort to thank people also CREATES an attitude of gratitude in oneself: saying "thank you" reminds you to be inwardly thankful as a general principle.

Ultimately, Christians should say, "Deo gratias," thanks be to God, but that doesn't come out of thin air.  We don't instinctively say thank you to God for all the gifts (and crosses) he sends us, because we are fallen human beings and more focused on ourselves than on anything else.  "Does this please me?  Well, it is only my due."  That is the selfish, instinctive attitude that being grateful overcomes.  How to start overcoming?  Just say thanks!

Toilet Paper and Procrastination

I procrastinate a lot of things, but I don't like to call myself a procrastinator.  First of all, it's a negative term, defining me by a weakness which I do, occasionally, try to overcome.  Secondly, I don't think it's entirely accurate, because, though I sometimes do procrastinate day-to-day things (bills, getting gas, etc.) for the thrill of it, I don't procrastinate everything.  I have my limits.  For instance, one thing I never procrastinate is buying toilet paper.  This fact leads me to consider that priorities are really the answer to the procrastination problem.  In order to do something NOW, rather than put it off, I have to have a healthy sense of urgency about it.  For a lot of things in my life, unfortunately, that urgency is lacking.  I just need to remember: toilet paper.

Sarcasm

Normally, I don't allow myself to be sarcastic, but when I do, I can be really sarcastic.  Really.