Gratitude Leads to happiness

SEEING the young couple walking briskly and then breaking into a run towards their parked car, I was filled with envy.

“Oh, how I wish I could walk and run like them,” I thought to myself.

Normally anyone would take no notice of such a mundane scene but the reason why I did so on that particular day was because I was afflicted with a foot problem which had impaired my mobility. A tiny seed corn, the size of a small pea on the sole of my right foot caused me much pain when I walked, so much so that I had to limp to get anywhere. The problem had gone on for more than three weeks.

When I first noticed the pain, I did a check on the Internet and also consulted a pharmacist for a quick fix to the discomfort. I applied the prescribed medication for two weeks. The corn and surrounding skin, I observed, initially turned whitish. After a few days, it gradually began to peel off, starting from the edges.

At the end of the second week, the hardened core of the corn – together with the dried skin – detached completely from my sole. It was a great relief! However, despite the corn having come off, I was, out of habit, still hobbling around. It took me awhile before I broke the habit and walked normally again.

I realise that, very often, many of us tend to take things for granted. Before this problem hit me, I took my physical fitness for granted. I could walk or run anytime I chose to. However, when the pain and ailment struck me, I dreaded any physical movement even for a short distance. I couldn’t even walk barefooted in my home and had to wear a soft slipper to cushion the pain. Though it was only for three weeks that I was shackled by my physical disablement, I felt really miserable.

It is strange but somewhat true that sometimes when our life becomes too plain sailing, we tend to forget and not appreciate the many blessings in life. All it takes is a small setback to wake us up to reality and be thankful for the blessings, however small they may be.

Besides gratitude, another noteworthy change in myself is that, after regaining my ability to walk normally again, I felt an inner happiness arising in me like never before, each time I was about to set my feet down to do something. There’s no more pain, no more limping, or dread like before. The mere thought of being able to walk, fast or slow, and without any encumbrance, lifted my spirits. A happier person I have become, as a result.

I have learned to be always appreciative of what I have.

It has been said that there is a close correlation between gratitude and happiness. Many have attested to the fact that by being thankful and grateful for the good things in life, one is able to push one’s own happiness index up a few notches. I couldn’t agree more!

So to those who aspire, skeptics included, but have yet to arrive, start by making gratitude a way of life and the rest will fall into place naturally.