A friend of mine, let’s call him Adam, because that is his name.  Contacted me recently after finally coming out of a period of adversity and angst.  He said I am taking the gratitude challenge…..

I said “What the….”

It had been my intention to plot with him to seek revenge on the people who had been doing the wrong thing against him – now was the time to strike. (So six months of collecting their garbage and following their family was out the window…. it was going to be a surprise for Adam, but I didn’t mention it….)

He said no, he was going to be grateful for the things in his life as he had been missing them, and most other things in his life while going through adversity.  He had forgot to take notice of his real life and all the good things in it.

For me this was the usual state of affairs…. espousing mindfulness, enlightenment and presence while actually spending most days watching Youtube, reading old novels, drinking, smoking and avoiding people that would irritate me – which is just about everyone.

So, here I am on my blog, undertaking the gratitude challenge.  I have realised there are a million different web sites advocating ‘gratitude challenges’, most doing so genuinely, other than a few using it as a ruse to to sell you stuff – I am already grateful that I have PayPal and didn’t accidentally buy $500.00 worth of porn site access – I was only one click away from the worlds greatest secret on the internet – or so they told me.

I have downloaded a ‘pledge’ to myself to be grateful, printed it out, signed it and includedit here – nothing like public shame to make one be grateful you are in a room where no-one knows you…..  (This always reminds me of when you are getting a stern phone call from a manager or superior and they eventually say with great indignation against your non-cooperative failure to worship them “Do you know who this is” to which you reply “Yes, you are (insert name and important title here)” and them ask “Do you know who this is?” to which they invariably reply “No” – whereupon you say “Well get fucked then” hang up and scarper as fast as you can out of the middle managers office you were in taking a break….)

I also printed out the “21 Day Gratitude Challenge Calendar” which I have blue tacked to the wall   (what is it that blue tack is one of the most under rated substances on the planet and not just a distraction to make the longest blue skinny snake in occupational health and safety lectures…)

All this stuff can be found on their site – http://gratitudechallenge.com

So I have begun – 2 days before fat people start using lent to stuff chocolates into their faces daily – and 25 days before Christmas – just in time to do all my shopping on the last four days when I will believe that everyone should be as grateful as me with the things they already have, so why would I make them unhappy and buy them more stuff?

Notwithstanding some belligerence in my attitude towards the world today, I did manage to write my list of things I am grateful for (Adam said I had to write ten things down everyday – I read the instructions for the ’21 day gratitude challenge’ and that doesn’t appear to be in the rules?  Then again he probably went to a different site and is now figuring out how to hide the purchase of 100 hours of live cam action!)

So here we go:

Today I am grateful for:

1. Being Alive
   I have led a pretty dangerous and neglectful life – I am grateful that I have survived this far – I sure am lucky.

2. Having Whatever Food I Want
   Although this sounds bad, I am just grateful I have food – so many people in the world struggle just to eat.

3. Water
   Although we have storms today and people will have trouble from them – I am grateful our rainwater tanks will be full and we drink clear fresh water everyday.

4. My Wife
   One of the things I am most grateful for in my entire life is my wonderful wife Jo – I would forgo everything for her.

5. Being Retired
   Although I am pretty young (56) I am very lucky (and it was good luck mostly) that I am able to retire securely and think about what to do next – as a matter of fact I am really, really grateful for this.

6. Having a Place to Live
   We have been building a new house for a while and while we were waiting we live in a little rented shack – one evening Jo and I looked at each other and said, if this was it, that would be okay. I am grateful I have a home.

7. Having a Car
   Isn’t it just wonderful that we can jump in a car and travel vast distances.

8. Being in a Free Country
   I am grateful that I can live in a free country and not in fear from government or ideology.

9. My Kids
   I still after all these year can’t believe I am a Dad – I am lucky and grateful for the privilege.

10. Being able to Read and Write
    Both are joys of mine and I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t continue to do both – I am grateful for being able to read and write – not so much my spelling!