2024 Gratitude Challege – Day 7

This post will be somewhat more detailed than usual. While I aim to avoid political debates here, it’s important to acknowledge the recent election. For some, yesterday was a moment of celebration, while for others, it brought feelings of sadness and confusion. Observations from social media suggest that the divisive climate surrounding elections is expected to continue in the future.

Honestly, yesterday was just another day for me; the core of who I am hasn’t shifted. My commitment to acting with virtue, kindness, and fairness remains unwavering. Earlier this year, I shared my thoughts on the significance of discovering our common ground, and that message still resonates deeply with me. Let’s keep striving to connect and understand one another. Be grateful for our similarities and our differences.

The picture at the top of this post is from my garage. It reminds me that I have some recycling work to do. Additionally, we get a lot of packages at our house. Perhaps we purchased too much stuff.

While I support capitalism and the free market, I question how much consumption is truly necessary. Can you resist the temptation of excessive consumerism? Instead of indulging yourself today, think about treating someone else or contributing to a worthy cause—or both.

It is easy to praise providence for anything that may happen if you have two qualities: a complete view of what has actually happened in each instance and a sense of gratitude. Without gratitude what is the point of seeing, and without seeing what is the object of gratitude?—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 1.6.1–2