Gratitude is the Key

The world today we live in today is filled with a plethora of opportunities. We have opportunities to serve others, to give, to receive, and to love. However, one area we sometimes forget about is the opportunity we have each day to express our gratitude for our lives and the privilege to serve others through our dental profession. On days when we feel loved and needed, gratitude comes easy in our lives. On other days, however, our lives may be in darkness and a feeling of gratitude is the furthest thing from our minds. These are the days when we question our purpose in life, whether what we do is worth it or not, or whether we are making a difference in this world.

Mother Teresa has left us with these words of wisdom that gives us hope and direction:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Moments we feel mistreated or unloved, we can build up resentments towards others. Having a spirit of forgiveness and looking at the “good and bad” of life as opportunities for growth, we can live a life of gratitude that allows us to be and perform at our best.