Jeremy Adams Smith wrote an article called, "Six Habits of Highly Grateful People" in which he explores the qualities he has observed in truly appreciative people.  According to his research and observation these thankful people have six common traits.  One, they think about what life would be like without their daily luxuries, and then second they appreciate the things they have with renewed vigor.  Third, they choose to be thankful for the privileges they receive rather than taking them for granted because they "deserve them."  Fourth, grateful people are thankful for people as much, if not more than, the things and processions in their life.  Fifth, Smith observes that truly grateful people offer their loved ones specific thanks for what they do for them.  Lastly, and hardest of all, Smith challenges his readers to, "Thank Outside the Box."  This means to not only thanking the people who care for and help you, but also the people who have hurt you.  Smith leaves his readers with an incentive to achieve these six grateful habits he says that these six habits can help, "transform an obstacle into an opportunity...re-framing a loss into a potential gain, recasting negativity into positive channels for gratitude" (Smith).

I agree that the last step is the hardest.  I'm not sure if anyone, no matter how centered and grateful they are could ever completely master this one.  I also don't think that Smith meant that you literally have to go thank the people who hurt you.  You don't have to go to your old boss's office and thank her for firing you last year (although that would be something).  I think Smith is really trying to say that you thank them internally, or if not that, at least be grateful that the painful experince helped you grow as a person.  This semester I have blogged about some of the hard times I've had these last few months.  Some of them have been pretty devistating, others just tough to get through, but I have tried to stay positive about it all to help myself stay on top of things.  I've tried to stay mentally tough and by trying to be thankful for the obstacles I've over come.  I know I'm a much stronger person than I was when I started this college journey.  My stamina has probably quadrupled, with the amount of work I feel I can handle to even getting out of bed earlier every morning.  Some of the things that helped me to grow, were difficult to get through, but seeing them as blessings rather than hinderences definately helps me see my college in a much more positive light.




Works Cited

Smith, Jeremy Adam. "Six Habits of Highly Grateful People." The Berkely Blog. UC
Berkeley, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2013/11/26/
six-habits-of-highly-grateful-people/>.