Business Process Improvement, Metrics, Data Analyst Professional
As
luck would have it, a few months before learning my position was being
eliminated, I happened to read “The Gratitude Diaries – How a Year Looking on
the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life” by Janice Kaplan. (Hint: Princeton
Public, Mercer County, and Somerset County Libraries all have this book in
their collection – you don’t need to purchase it.) The premise of the book is
quite simple. Create a journal and every day note three ways you are fortunate.
While three is often considered a magic number, in this case there is nothing
doctrinal about the choice. Mrs. Kaplan found one too shallow and five too
burdensome. Thus the trinity was a compromise. Admittedly, some days are more
difficult than others, but breathing and getting out of bed are bona fide
blessings. There is also nothing wrong with repeating a previous day’s
appreciation.
Since
turning 50 a couple of years ago, I have intentionally sought out experiences
that challenge me to move beyond my traditional comfort zone. Two years ago, on
a whim, I decided to learn how to unicycle. That proved to be one of the most
difficult challenges I’ve ever tackled.
Working on my gratitude list one morning was
like looking at an M. C. Escher image and having it suddenly invert on me. On
this particular morning I realized being unexpectedly thrust into the job
market was the ultimate uncomfortable situation handed to me as a present. That
paradigm shift was transformative. All of a sudden my situation morphed into
the ultimate challenge. In light of my current situation, my mantra became, if
I can learn to unicycle, I can find a new job. (I do a lot of cycling, so my
analogies tend to be bike related.) While I can’t promise you having a spirit
of gratitude will land you a new job, it will help you maintain a positive
attitude and that, no doubt, will be beneficial.
I
think the quote I recently read is dead on. “A bad attitude is like a flat tire.
You can’t get anywhere until you change it.” Regularly taking time to
write down just how lucky you are will encourage you to be mindful of what is
going right in your life and help you move on.
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