Where the Green Grass Grows

Today my wife gave a wonderful talk in church. Of course, her talks are always wonderful, and since our branch has fewer than 10 members, I get to hear them at least once a month. But seriously, this one was even better than usual. She spoke concerning the power of gratitude, and how we can harness that power in our own lives. As an insider, I know that she wasn’t planning to speak on this originally, but as she was preparing her thoughts, it took this direction. I thought it was impeccable timing considering that during this week Thanksgiving will be celebrated in the United States.

Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday of mine. It may have to do with the fact that my birthday falls on the same day as Thanksgiving every six years. It may also have to do with my love of potatoes and fine poultry. But besides these reasons, I love Thanksgiving because I feel that it represents something that is more powerful and important than we often give credit. Though the holiday itself is based loosely on some historical events, it has developed to be a time for family to gather, and to “give thanks” for the good things in life.

A few years ago, a researcher (undoubtedly from Brigham Young University) took a look at talks given by the General Authorities (leaders) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during General Conferences (church-wide meetings which take place every six months). All talks from the past several decades were surveyed and categorized based on the primary theme of each given talk. Many were surprised to find that “gratitude” was a clear winner.

One aspect of human nature is that we tend to be fantastic critics. We have mastered the skills of editing and correcting. If there is something wrong with anything in the world, somebody has found it. This is true for everything – our families, our friends, our leaders, or even our own lives.

A sixteen-year-old with their first pimple is likely to notice the few millimeters of blemish on their face, while ignoring all the clear skin that surrounds it. Likewise, we tend to critique and complain about the “problems” we see in all sorts of things, while ignoring the majority of good that surrounds us. A leader once explained this principle to me as looking at a magnificent tapestry with a beautiful and intricate design, and only focusing on a few strings that have come loose.

Thanksgiving represents a time to forget about all of our problems and focus on what we have. While this may go against our nature, cultivating a grateful attitude in our lives can work wonders. The old adage of “counting your blessings” really works! If we take time to specifically focus on the things we have that are good in our lives, and even write them down regularly if needed, we begin to see how much we truly have. We begin to notice how wonderful the tapestry really is, rather than only seeing the small mistakes. We see that the grass is indeed as green on our side.

Focusing on these problems is simply not a healthy way to live. It creates unnecessary stress in our lives, which carries with it so many unpleasant consequences. Ever notice how emotionally draining somebody who is constantly negative can be? What do you think we are doing to ourselves when we focus on what we interpret to be a problem, and ignore the vast expanses of beauty around us?

So, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! During this week of celebrating gratitude, I would love to hear the things which you are all grateful for in your lives. I will start with a short list:

• My wonderfully brilliant wife Emily.
• The great opportunity to be a Peace Corps volunteer and the experience I am gaining from living in a different country.
• My Mother and Father, for teaching me the value of agency and the importance of using one’s brain.
• My Father in Heaven, for creating such a beautiful world for us and endowing us with limitless potential.

Share your thoughts on gratitude and your lists as well. Often times we forget, and gratitude expressed by another might remind us of something we too tend to overlook.