How to be Grateful (whilst writing about pasta)
Today, I realised that I’m completely pre-occupied by the thoughts in my head. They’re always there, incessantly telling me what to do and what not to do, what I will do and what I won’t, what I’m supposed to be doing, but not doing. It’s tireless, which makes it equally exhausting at the same time. These thoughts rarely achieve anything, aside from distracting me from the actual task in hand, whatever that may be; working, relaxing, eating, cooking, listening, talking, thinking etc.
How to be Grateful.
Last night I was chatting to a friend about gratitude, the idea that we can become grateful and happy, simply by saying we are. Equally, we perpetuate sadness and morosity when we constantly tell people that’s how we feel. I’ve met many people who maintain that regularly writing a gratitude list, or setting aside time to be thankful for what we have in life, allows us to take on the feelings that we talk about. It’s the idea of “fake it ’til you make it”, if you say you are happy constantly, eventually, you really will be.
Whether You Like it or Not, You’re Being Judged.
One of Sartre’s ideas captured my imagination and inspired me recently. He claimed it is only what we do in life that defines us as human beings, regardless of intention and inner essence, we are judged only by our actions. I can’t get the concept out of my head, why is this so important to me?
It goes back the beginning of this post. Being obsessed with my thoughts will not progress my life in any way whatsoever, it will not achieve anything, it will not help me to create and develop my own world. Conversely, if I act, I will be judged by those actions, so being happy, confident and grateful, regardless of whether I feel those things, will bring more of those qualities into my life. If I tell someone I’m grateful, they’ll go away thinking “he’s such a grateful person”. Additionally, because humans are like mirrors, when someone says they’re sad, the person receiving that information also feels sad, equally, when someone smiles, laughs and says they’re happy, we smile and laugh with them.
Ultimately, our entire world around us is a reflection of the personality that we put out. Therefore, the only person that can change the world I live in, is me. And the only way changes will occur, is through action, regardless of whether I feel like it or not, it’s the only way.
Gavin Wren is a professional food photographer, food blogger at le petit oeuf,occasional food writer and Food Policy MSc student at City, University of London. He talks food on Twitter and his photographs are on Flickr.
