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Jared Kaping's avatar

Just posted on gratitude today, one of my 5 under valued characteristics! Great post enjoyed the read, I am aiming to keep track of my gratitude throughout the new year, as in previous years I merely practiced it without writing it down.

https://modernancient.substack.com/p/better-men-5-personality-traits-that

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JEANETTE LEBLANC's avatar

It is absolutely the micro-moments, as you call them, the ordinary-extraordinary details that so often pass unnoticed, that make a difference. I'd say that not only does a gratitude practice have incredible power to improve a life, but it cannot help but make one a better writer, because it is the practice of attention.

Mary Oliver wrote "Instructions for living a life: 1. pay attention. 2. be astonished. 3. tell me about it". I often tell my students that these are the exact instructions I would give for writing a life as well. And - I think the 'be astonished' part, is what gratitude is. It's essential to notice, because everything starts there... but if you are not astonished - if you do not find the wonder (which stems from or leads to gratitude) then you don't have much of anything magical to tell me about.

And I truly think that when we take the time to give ourselves over to this practice, everything changes.

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