By: Robert (Bob) Bianchi, Esq.

I truly believe that gratefulness in the present moment is the greatest gift the spirit world gives to all of us- – if only we took the time to notice all that is good in this world, rather than concentrating on the negative.

But, as simple as gratitude practice is, it is hard to follow in a world that is filled with tasks, responsibilities, pressures, tests, trials, and tribulations.

But, why is being grateful such a hard task for many of us?

In reality, the hardest part of gratefulness practice is believing that it works during those times in all of our lives where we yearn for “something more.” In all of the good things in our lives, there are still many like me with a gnawing feeling that there is still something missing- – and what it is you just can’t put your “finger on.”

Once we explore our minds (if we are courageous enough), it is not hard to understand why every faith tradition; every great philosophical tradition; and all wise people have arrived at the very same conclusion about gratefulness practices as a “joyfulness force multiplier.” It is a because it is that simple, once we allow ourselves to be deprogrammed by many years of “this, that and the other thing” that brought hollow “gains” but were, in reality, unsustaining and transient at best.

We need to lean into “Radical Gratitude” as my friend Angela Kubisky calls it. We need to really step back and see all that is good in our lives, which is such a hard task. But like anything else, with practice, it becomes very easy.

So, I get back to my plumber.

Recently, we had plumbing problems at my home. The man that came was excellent at his job. He unclogged the sinks, made a minor fix to a toilet problem, and fixed a problem with our shower.

Today, as I was getting ready for work, I took the time to be really grateful for the plumbing work that he did. I imagined life without plumbing.

It is easy to take plumbing for granted.

I thought of all of the people in the world that do not have plumbing or access to water that is easily accessible- – and here I am at a touch of a faucet and there it is- – such a precious thing in our lives that is so basic for our survival that we take for granted.

Instead of worrying about events beyond my control, I simply hit the “delete button” on negative thinking and replace it for something to be grateful for that I most likely am overlooking most of the time.

So, I am grateful for my plumbing and the plumber that fixed it!

Wishing you all the ability to concentrate more on all of the things in your life that are going right, as opposed to going “wrong.”

© 2015 Robert (Bob) Bianchi