7 & 7: Grateful vs. Hateful

REFLECTION:

Hate hurts the hater. A burning passion self digests. When you expect too much you breed your own resentment. But if your expectations are zero, every little blessing is a pleasant and welcome surprise. Human nature wants to compare, to compete, to have and in the process create have-nots. But isn’t there enough misfortune already, without creating more? Wouldn’t it be better just to disengage from the battle, let go of the hate, and commit to a different future rather than the same old past? It is possible there are blessings already on the way that can’t get through the veil of hate that you have hung. No one’s paying attention to what has angered you but you. Letting go of hate lets you be yourself, in all your silliness and imperfection, in all your goodness and fullness. Hate degrades and diminishes you. Gratitude creates openness to blessings and the likelihood that your blessings will multiply in your sharing them with others.

MUSES:

To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.
William H. Walton

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

When one’s expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.
Stephen Hawking

If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence every one must take equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.
Solon

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Sacred ritual chant

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
W.T. Purkiser