Gratitude From a Bad Attitude

[Tim Brownson]

I just posted this which happened to me today and thought I'd share it with you good people.

Happy New Year to each and everyone of you.

I was sat at home doing some reading today when I got a phone call from my wife. She was driving back from work and had got a flat tire and needed me to drive out and help her to change the wheel.

I was thrilled with the opportunity to go out in the rain (I wanted to say cold and rain there but thought that might be taking artistic license just a bit too far here in Orlando) and thrash about trying to remove wheel nuts that had been put on by Popeye’s bigger stronger brother. After all, why would anybody want to sit at home and read when they could be almost killed by reckless drivers, get covered in oil and scrape their knuckles red raw? It’s a no-brainer, give me the wild outdoors anytime.

I set off with my trusty toolbox in hand (I say trusty in so much as it’s never fallen to pieces unlike most things I try to mend when I usually reach for it) and a bad attitude in mind. I was still whining to myself about how unlucky I was and what a bummer for this to happen on New Years Eve to a great guy like me when I got to Helen.

“I’m sorry”. Were her first words to me.

“It’s not your fault” I replied. What? I thought. That was a bit out of left field actually saying it wasn’t her fault! Technically of course it was true, but c’mon there’s no need to admit it immediately, I’m sure I could have milked the situation for a bit more. This life coaching malarkey is going a bit too far.

Then I said, “It could have been worse, you could have been on the I4, or even another 10 miles away” Then I reeled off a number of ways in which we were actually lucky that this happened!

The tire didn’t blow out and cause an accident
It wasn’t raining hard at all now – it had been earlier.
She hadn’t been approached my any weird strangers
I wasn’t back in the UK
She hadn’t forgotten her cell phone like she often does
Her cell phone was charged
I wasn’t with a client
It wasn’t 7.00pm and dark
It wasn’t likely to have any impact on New Years Eve
She wasn’t in her own car, which is a Z4 and doesn’t carry a spare
The tires had done almost 25,000 miles so were almost ready for changing
It got me out to the Post Office to mail some books
There was no damage to the actual wheel
We managed to get lunch together immediately afterwards at a diner nearby
We didn’t need a tow truck
All the necessary parts to change the wheel were in the car

So there you have it, all’s well that ends well, We skipped home in the now brilliant sunlight through the meadow holding hands, picking dandelions and laughing as we went. Unfortunately though in our blissful state we forgot the cars and both of them were stolen with minutes.

[z1freeride]

Great story! I remember a simple experience I had with gratitude:

I was out doing some errands when I happened to hit every single red light. For whatever reason, it started to madden me quite a bit. I then thought, "You know, I am just grateful to have a car." I then listed a bunch of different things I was grateful for. Immediately, all negative feelings just disappeared!

[GoalSettingCollege]

Excellent take. It's enlightening to see you taking a light hearted approach to something that most people would consider a disaster. I'm sorry you lost the cars but well, you gained something even more.

Wonderful quality time with your wife.

MasterCard Value : Priceless

Cheers,
Ellesse

[Tim Brownson]

Originally Posted by GoalSettingCollege

Excellent take. It's enlightening to see you taking a light hearted approach to something that most people would consider a disaster. I'm sorry you lost the cars but well, you gained something even more.

Wonderful quality time with your wife.

MasterCard Value : Priceless

Cheers,
Ellesse

Sorry Ellesse, my British sense of humor got the better of me. We didn't really have the cars stolen it was a joke

[PennyD]

I love that you practiced gratitude at a time like this Tim. Great story!

I feel that gratitude is one of the most powerful tools I have in my life tool box and would recommend it to anyone.

If fact you have inspired me to do a gratitude spring clean right now as I have been feeling a bit grumpy tonight for no reason.. get it all down on paper that will do me good!

take care
Penny

[Alison Jenkins]

Isn't it great when you can have an attitude of gratitude. I remember when my fridge freezer packed up in the summer and it took 5 wks for them to repair it. I have 4 young kids so it wasn't easy. Then I thought actually I am really lucky to have a fridge at all. There are many people who never have one and I am feeling hard done by losing it for 5 wks. It certainly changed my perspective on things.

Alison

[stellabeam]

Love this thread!!

I was thinking of starting a similar one, because tonight I was at the ATM putting in my plasic card to get some money out and I felt so deliciously grateful for the money!!

Isn't it amazing that you can type in a number and money comes out?? And you can spend it on whatever you want?? I felt so lucky.

It has not always been like that for me and I know that for most people in the world it is not like that.

It sounds so simplistic and dorky even saying it, but that feeling of gratitude is just the best.

[PennyD]

I am so grateful that my flatmate (yes we are just friends) gives me a hug every morning!! haha.. what a hoot to be walking around in my sad morning got to go to work daze and my six foot five flatmate gives me a good morning hug and kiss on the cheek!

I am so grateful that my new boss at my new job has absolutely no control issues what so ever.. i mention that I don't understand this paragraph in the policy that she has written and she tells me that she likes my idea and it is good to have my novice view on the policy and to just go and change the policy to what I think it could be and she will approve it!!! it is amazing!!

I am grateful for all the amazing and wonderful things that go on in my body every single second so that I can live and breath and laugh and jump up and down if I want to..

[gita]

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a couple of weeks back and that put an end to all the good things I was craving and eating for weeks before that! I had to have a strict diet (despite feeling really hungry at times) and lots of exercise (walking, though my feet hurt most of the time). As I grew grumpier by the day, I realised I have a supportive family and I am actually doing this for the baby inside. And suddenly I felt so grateful for the baby and I was ready to do anything for the baby's healthy growth!

[GoalSettingCollege]

Sorry Ellesse, my British sense of humor got the better of me. We didn't really have the cars stolen it was a joke

You've certainly got me there! For a moment I thought it was real.

Cheers,
Ellesse

[Old Soul]

hehehehe!!

you killed your story at the end by saying the cars were stolen:-),

regardless , i loved the light heartedness of the crisis... i always say better to laugh through life's bloopers, than let life laugh at you!!

[ShamK]

I work in a hospital and when i see palliative care patients, i just realise how lucky i am to have all the time in the world to correct things for myself. Im greatful that i still have time to improve my relationship with my family especially my mom. I left home and came to a different continent to work and i just realised that i was running away and im never at peace. However im so thankful to everyone ive met over here so far who has taught me a little something and to value the life im living.


Sham