Up and down. Down and up. Could be better. Could be worse.
A Blessing from a Stranger at Walmart
I very rarely go to Walmart. When I do it's usually very late at night when the other stores are closed. So just before midnight on Sunday night there I was walking the aisles of Walmart. I passed by a man who nodded a hello as I passed by. I nodded and replied, "How are you?".
He said, "Could be better. Could be worse."
I've heard this cliche a million times before but his words really struck me at that moment. In part because he appeared to be homeless or living in extreme poverty. Second because I finally saw this cliche for what it is, an exercise in perspective. His quote resonated with me and stayed in my mind for the rest of the evening. I decided after about an hour that this would be the topic of my writing this week. Then the universe gave me some personal context for my writing when the following day our website went down. I was grateful for technical support but still the problem returned. With each passing day I was more and more stressed. But I kept remembering the words: Could be better; Could be worse. Yes. So very true.
Over the next three days I revisited those words again and again. It kept me focused in the present. In what was real. And of course in what I was grateful for. What a blessing this stranger gave to me. One that applies to every situation. One that reminds me that I can choose my perspective. One that reminds me to be grateful. One that reminds me to keep moving.
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
~Viktor E. Frankl
Things could be better. They could be worse. And still what are you grateful for?
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[su_note note_color=”#e7e7e7″ text_color=”#686767″ radius=”0″] My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it! A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide. My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can too. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336. [/su_note]