Summary

The author expresses gratitude as a transformative practice that brings awareness to life's simple pleasures, heals past pains, and highlights the beauty in everyday experiences.

Abstract

The article discusses the profound impact of starting each day with the phrase "thank you." The author shares a personal journey from a period of monotony and disconnection to a newfound appreciation for life's mundane aspects, sparked by the routine of caring for a puppy. This daily expression of gratitude has led to a deeper recognition of health, relationships, and nature's marvels. The author also reflects on the statistical improbability of one's existence, suggesting that a grateful mindset can counteract entitlement and lead to a more fulfilling life. Gratitude is presented as a tool for overcoming past grievances, finding beauty in the ordinary, and acknowledging the world's inherent goodness, which often goes unnoticed amidst daily frustrations like red traffic lights.

Opinions

The author believes that expressing gratitude each morning sets a positive tone for the day.
The act of saying "thank you" is seen as a way to acknowledge and appreciate the functionality of one's body, the presence of loved ones, and the beauty of the natural world.
The author suggests that being thankful for life's challenges can diminish their negative impact and foster personal growth.
The article implies that recognizing the statistical unlikelihood of our existence can cultivate a sense of appreciation for the mere fact of being alive.
Gratitude is presented as a means to see beyond the ordinary and appreciate the artistry in everyday life.
The author posits that by focusing on the positive aspects of life, symbolized by green traffic lights, one can counter the common belief that the world is against them.

The First Two Words I Say When I Wake Up Every Morning

“Thank you” sets the tone for my day

At one low point in my life, I never knew what day it was. Each one blurred together in a boring, awful, homogeneous blob.

“Aren’t we going to your Dad’s tonight?” I asked my wife.

“Babe, that was three weeks ago.”

Now, I say two words in the morning.

“Thank you.”

I wish I could tell you the dramatic story of a spiritual breakthrough. What happened was this — I got a puppy. Since he has to pee and walk in the morning, I can no longer jump right out of bed and “hustle.”

(How will I ever be successful?!)

Instead he forces me to observe not especially interesting pieces of the universe like trees and grass and rocks.

The dog is already fascinated by all of these things. I didn’t get it at first. Now I understand.

I woke up —thank you. My legs still work —thank you. The Wife is also still breathing — thank you. There’s coffee sitting in this warm pot — thank you. The trees magically create oxygen for us to inhale —thank you. Unimpressive book sales that taught me hard lessons —thank you.

There’s a magical device which allows me to share work with strangers — thank you.

Why thank you?

“Thank you” beats being spoiled

I don’t the exact statistic and I’m not going to look it up, but there is about a one in a gajillion chance of you being who you are where you are and when you are.

Pretty lucky, huh?

Thank you, life.

“Thank you” is healing

You were wronged in your life. I know you were. I’m sorry for that. But the instant you are grateful for that pain is the instant you remove its power over you.

Thank you, pain.

“Thank you” finds beauty in everything

Paul McCartney wrote a song about a street, a barber doing barber stuff, and a banker doing banker stuff. Can you imagine a more boring scenario? Yet here I am humming Penny Lane 50 years later.

Art is everywhere. “Thank you” helps uncover it.

A piece of art is never just a piece of art. Without tragedy, without comedy, without hope, without heartbreak, guess what? There is no art.

Thank you, art.

“Thank you” reminds you the world is out to get

Think about your morning drive. How many traffic lights do you go through? Five? Seven? Twelve? You might not remember.

On the way home, though, I bet you notice which ones stop you and forget the ones that don’t. It’s human nature, I think.

Most of the time, though, your green lights will outnumber your red lights. Try it after you read this. Say thank you to the green ones. Take that red lights.

The world is out to get you. It’s just opposite of what you think. “Thank you” draws your attention to the good all around you.

Thank you, world.