“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Cicero
As we enter the new year, many of us in trepidation, as the world plunge into what is possibly the worst economic crisis it has faced, we may be sorely tempted to look for who to blame for this mess we are in. Some of you may have lost your job and you may be ranting and raving at the bosses for their poor management and even poorer treatment of staff, like yourself, who had been so loyal to the company. Some of you may have been partners in a business that failed, and your heart is full of anger and hatred for those you blame for its demise.
But as Brother David Steindl-Rast says, and my mentor Dr Ernest Wong frequently stresses, “Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more.”
So let us instead start this year, with a heart of gratitude and thankfulness for all the blessings we have, the people who love us, the friends who bring joy into our lives, the mentors who have guided us in our journey through life, and even for our bosses – good or bad – who have contributed to our growth.
For me, I want to thank many people who have touched my life:
Loren and Sandra, my gratitude to you for showing us the immense possibilities in life and how we can enhance our lives so we can impact the world. Despite all the brickbats you have received, know that you have been a wonderful influence to countless people, including me, and you have made us better people, and gave us unforgettable experiences and memories. We love you and pray for God’s blessings for you and your family.
My mother, who has sacrificed so much to bring us up, who give us unconditional love all the time. What would I have been without your pillar of strength!
My headmistress, Miss Cooke, for instilling strong values that have seen me theough the years.
My brother, KC, who has been my boss, mentor, teacher – I have learnt so much from you and I thank you for your faith and belief in me.
My mentor, Dr Ernest Wong, you have been a wonderful teacher and inspiration for so many – you have guided so many young people and provided a spark that will light up many, many lives. You have taught me about gratitude and appreciation for those who have helped us along our journey – there is no such thing as a “self-made” man or woman!
My mentor Robert Kiyosaki – the lives you have touched cannot be counted! It’s like the precession concept – you have created so many ripples with your ideas and that has multiplied manifold. You are one of the many I learnt gratitude from – thank you for acknowledging me in your book, it has been such an honour and has meant so much to me.
My husband, Patrick – you have been my greatest coach and inspiration. I have learnt so much from you that I find myself quoting your one-liners all the time! You are an incredibly wise and caring person, and such a blessing to all those who are coached by you.
And of course to my God, who has been there for me, even when I had forgotten or forsaken you. Thank you for the miracles and blessings you have given me!
There are so many others that I feel so grateful to, as they have helped made me what I am today… it’s impossible to name all of them.
Suffice it to say that in writing this article, I hope it will inspire you to pause and start counting your blessings with a grateful heart. I will sign off with this quote from Melodie Beattie: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Have a happy life!
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