Our barking dog.  Our kid’s obstinacy.  Our spouse’s excessive tidiness.  A strict boss or teacher.  Some things in life we find irritating or annoying.  They become the complaints of our life. 

However, these same annoyances (and many, many more) begin to change once we look at them from a perspective of gratitude.  Here’s what I mean…

When we’re grateful for our dog, we can see that he barks because he’s trying to protect us and our home.  He’s doing “his job.”  Good dog.

When we’re grateful for our child, “warts and all” her stubbornness is an indication that she’s growing into an assertive young lady. She’s not going to let anyone bully her or walk all over her.  In addition, she’ll accomplish what she sets out to do.  What a relief that will be for us.

A spouse’s excessive tidiness.  Okay this is my issue.  My husband has what call the “H&G fear.” Fear that House and Gardens Magazine is going to walk in at any moment and start taking pictures. So everything has to be neat, put away and showcase perfect.  Raising kids is a challenge in this kind of environment, as you can imagine.  But, when I look at him through the eyes of gratitude, I’m thankful that I don’t live with a slob. Our house always looks great. I never have to wash the dishes (they’re washed, dried and put away before I can get up off the couch :-)) How great is that?

A strict boss or teacher may be annoying or intimidating. But seen through the eyes of gratitude he or she is calling forth our excellence. He or she is helping us be the best we can be, as well as helping the organization run more smoothly.

Okay, now it’s your turn.  Try it. Take an issue that, at the moment is a source of annoyance.  Then, take a few moments to turn it around. Be grateful for him, her or it.  Then see if you can’t find the blessing hidden there.

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Today, I’m grateful for work that is fun and fulfilling.

I am grateful for the box of Valentine’s chocolates that I forgot I hid…and just remembered!

I am grateful for the opportunity to see amazing theater this weekend.

I am grateful for the beautiful songs of the birds in my yard which were unusually active this morning.