It Could Be Worse...

I think there is a continuum of grateful, thankful thinking... Maybe the continuum moves from "It could be worse..." to "I have only thanks... no complaints." Tonight I want to start with "It could be worse..." I think if I can think of at least five reasons why it could be worse, I will be more grateful for what is... for what I have right now. Anyone who wants to is invited to join in. Be serious. Be silly. Be outrageous. Be funny. Be sarcastic (I have a special love for sarcasm). Let's blog our way to gratitude. I'll begin.

1. It is very cold. It is snowing outside. I don't like winter but It could be worse. I could be sitting outside in the snow instead of sitting here in my warm apartment.
2. Certain things about a certain coworker really irk me but it could be worse. I could be spending my mornings in the unemployment office, cruising the want ads and struggling to make ends meet.
3. My parents have been irritating me lately. Sometimes I wish they would support me more and criticize me less but it could be worse. My father's parents are no longer alive and I'd be willing to bet he would be happy to be irritated by one of them just once.
4. I have no idea what the writers of Alias are thinking this season but it could be worse. I could be living without Lost.
5. I have the worst headache right now but it could be worse. The fact that I can feel anything means my body is functioning. That's a good thing even if I don't like how it is functioning.

Your turn. Whatever is going on in your world... think about it. Couldn't it be worse?

Comments

[g]

I did roofing at one point in my life. Because I really wanted to learn about roofs. And because I liked the physical activity. But it's backbreaking work, and it's year round.

Especially in the winter, whenever I have complaints about my job, I tell myself, it could be worse. I could be up on the roof today.

[angel]

that is my husband's mantra, "it could always be worse." somehow, once those words are spoken you do feel led to gratitude in some odd way, which at times makes me feel guilty because i'd like to feel gratitude first without having to acknowledge the possibility of "worse" in order to get to the gratitude. (if that makes any sense at all).

[chalip]

G... Isn't there always something we can think of... I find that interesting.

I've been in a serious funk for the past few days for no particular reason. Doing this silly, whiny exercise didn't help much.

Angel, I get what you're saying... I'd like to feel gratitude first too... I don't know why I don't... I guess these past few days I just really could see how easily my mind turns to complaint when I let it. I guess that's why the dharma tells us to guard our minds well.

[haiku]

chalip: i thought of this post the other night. my daughter was sick and came into our bed to sleep and then vomited all over. she then said that it could be worse. i said, "how?" she said that she could have vomited all over HER bed. hmmmm. interesting perspective there.

[chalip]

That is interesting... I guess your bed doesn't hold the same worth for her that her own does? Kids are so great... So often they will say what we won't, even when we feel exactly the same way.

[Gina Also]

1.) It's cold in other places... I'm in the very warm south, and it's beautiful outside.

2.) My job can be crazymaking. But the perks are good, and it still pays most of the bills.

3.) Knitting. 'Nuff said.

4.) I'm 39 and healthy and relatively sane. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

5.) Yoga. 'Nuff said.

:)