Ten Drops

I'm reading a book right now about positive thinking, and what it can do in your life. The book, called Beyond Positive Thinking by Drs. Arnold and Barry Fox, is not just about positive thinking, but is about how there has to be action that corresponds to this thinking. It gives a story in the book about a woman who spent much of her childhood going from foster family to foster family, and being abused, abandoned, etc. Finally, at the age of 12, she was placed with this family who treated her like one of their own children.

The first night at dinner, this young girl was amazed as she watched "her dad" remove "ten plagues" from a water glass, in the form of drops. These "plagues", or tears, were things like anger, fear, self-pity, doubt, etc. After these drops were removed from the glass, the glass was refilled with "smiles". He would say:

"A drop of love,
A drop of warmth,
A drop of friendship,
A drop of song,
A drop of laughter,
A drop of learning,
A drop of growing,
A drop of sharing,
A drop of helping,
A drop of forgiving.
Ten drops make an ocean of joy"

After these drops were added, the glass was passed around the table for everyone to take a sip. Today, that young woman is a mother herself and is teaching her children the same lessons she learned from this family.

For some reason, this chapter of the book was one that I clicked with. As I sit and think about the bad things - such as fear, anger, self-pity, etc. - I realize that these thoughts will get me nowhere. On the other hand, as I think about what I can do today to learn, grow, help, forgive, I feel better about myself, my situation and the world in general.

Therefore I ask the question: Why focus on the bad stuff, when there is so much to be eternally grateful for in life? What are you grateful for?