Thank you – A short story
An old man, during his final days, followed a simple ritual. Each night he scribbled lines on small pieces of paper. The next morning, he read them aloud to the plants in the garden, to the well, shared with people he met in the village. The plants couldn’t respond, the well was stoic, and people reacted differently – some shrugged, some smiled, some engaged in brief chats.
One day he handed the note to a little boy. It read “Thank you for your presence.” When the curious boy asked why he shared such notes, the old man explained “Every existence around me mattered and made my life more livable. I am learning to appreciate when I am around and not after I am gone. Visit my house after I am gone, and you will understand.”
Months later, after the old man’s death, the boy visited his home. The garden had withered, the well had dried, and neighbors occasionally felt his absence. Yet his message endured: gratitude makes life richer and more livable.
For your reflection
What we dismiss as mundane and ordinary, is what makes everyday life truly livable. Across cultures, many celebrations are rooted in gratitude.
If you want to feel more alive, look closely at the simple routines and surroundings you take for granted. Begin appreciating the existence of both the big and small things. Gratitude is a practice to awaken us from our patterns and be alive.
What has always been around you that you have least appreciated?
Who is one person who has stood by you for many years, yet whose presence often goes unacknowledged?
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero