The Feeling Of Being Thankful And A Squirrel's Butt

Through the years I have heard about how you should be thankful and grateful. They say you should start your day with the "attitude of gratitude".

I have often tried to focus on things I was thankful for and sometimes I even wrote it down. Things like the roof over my head, the people I love, food, and warmth etc.

The past summer my partner and I, after getting rid of nearly everything we have accumulated over the years together, we set out to try to have a life in Mexico, where we are now.

Now that we have almost no "stuff" and only a very few good supportive friends and family, and zero in our bank account from our former work wages, (we survive on Steem dollars and Bitcoin) I finally understand that all of the times I thought I was grateful, I actually didn't feel grateful.

I have recently discovered that being grateful is more than saying the words "I give thanks for my home, my health, etc."
It is a full connection that is felt mentally, emotionally and even physically.

Sure one may say that it may be easy to achieve if you are a Canadian avoiding the treacherous blizzard in exchange for a location in the tropics close to the beach. Well I must admit, it does help.

But really it isn't even that reason why I suddenly understand what it is like to feel thankful. It is the fact that our lives are so uncertain. That may sound like something to not be thankful for, but for me it is quite the opposite. It's this feeling that you will always have a surprise like a kid at Christmas not knowing what's inside the package.

It's a feeling of freedom knowing that you are not bound to anything, like a mortgage (I have nothing against it if somebody actually wants it), like having to report to a workplace, even if you would rather stay at home and draw a picture or create something.

I think the thing that set me off in understanding thankfulness was the moment I stood under a coconut tree last week and looked up, to find the most delightful image. It was the butt of a squirrel sticking out of a coconut. This squirrel was not eating peanuts like I'm used to, he was right inside something giant compared to him, tearing away at the flesh, after he managed to eat a hole into it.

This little creature wanted to get into the coconut and managed to do it, and I watched him feast on something that I myself couldn't get my hands on or open without a large tool and mighty force. I felt so grateful that I could be a part of this, and to also have that image remain with me forever though I wish I would have had my camera with me.

I'm not saying that I believe ,that you have to get rid of everything and see a squirrel's butt sticking out of a coconut to feel thankful. I'm just saying that it was my personal experience that set off the feeling of gratitude, which I've never really felt to this degree. And now I can carry on with this each day.

Having said all of that, if the God of Thanks would like to test me with a castle, a yacht, a fully loaded wardrobe and several trips around the world, well I am definitely up for the challenge.