42 Days of Gratitude: Day 9

Today was a challenging day. Like Erich Fromm stated, “One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often.” And today I was sad. But today instead of transferring that very rational emotion to an irrational frenzy of anger, I am grateful that I had the strength and the training to stay rational today.

It is never easy to be rational. It takes lots of work because we humans are irrational by nature; alot like cats. Maybe it’s a predator thing. I am lucky since I am also by nature a very hard worker, and gifted with the energy of teenagers. So I worked it today. I don’t like telling lies to myself. I like even less telling lies to anyone else and I had a breakthrough; sadness is painful but easier to process than anger which is just a cover up for the real feelings of sad.

I am overly sensitive; I know. It goes with the territory of artist. But this is a skill too which enables me to be deeply responsive to the world. And this was not a big thing but a small thing, an every day thing. No biggie. What a great opportunity. By nature I am always a bit paranoid and I really do not trust people easily. Most people are so trusting it astounds me. It takes time to earn my trust.

I am grateful that I am deeply responsive to the world around me and that I am opening my heart to allowing more people in.