“No one is as capable of gratitude as one
who has emerged from the kingdom of night.” ~ Elie Wiesel

“Thanking is a true understanding of who we really are.” ~ Julian of Norwich

The opposite of take is give.
The opposite of to take for granted
is to give thanks.
Being grateful is sustained
by an attitude of gratitude
which is manifested in the giving of thanks,
just as compassion is sustained
by an attitude of deep sympathy
and manifested in compassionate action.
This is the circle of thanks which is necessarily
linked with the circle of compassion.

What goes around comes around and then
goes around again and the pattern repeats
ad infinitum as a daily practice
which over time becomes a way of being.
Rabbi Heschel wrote,
“It is gratefulness which makes the soul great.”
He also wrote compassion is
“the essential sign of being human.”
Today I am grateful for many things
but I am especially conscious of each and all of you
who are in my circle of gratitude and,
along with others, in my circle of deep sympathy
as I give thanks for you for enriching my life
and for making the earth a more beautiful place.

~ Dan