Daily Gratitude: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Isn’t it wonderful how some people can sum up key points so succinctly?

This exemplifies the rut we put ourselves into. We’re so hung up on getting this or getting that and we never stop, look around, and say “wow I’m thankful for all that I have. It doesn’t really matter if I get this other thing I thought I wanted.” Have you ever heard anyone say that?

If we think about what this quote says it is think differently about what we’re after. It’s funny but I almost felt sadness thinking about how something that had been coveted once has now been dismissed and essentially abandoned when something newer comes into our minds.

And even sadder is that we skip from one to the other so quickly that one could almost wonder what it was that attracted us or was it just the need to have something new ?

Next time you have this burning desire or even any desire to get something, can you take a day or two to calm your brain and then ask if you really want that particular thing. In the one or two days, that desire may have dissipated and you can be satisfied with your “old stuff” (even if it’s just a few weeks old).

While you’re looking around to see what you already have, remember to practice gratitude too.