filed in What Gets Me Through the Day
The Real Deal
For years now, my nightly routine before the first forkful of dinner, is a round of gratitude. I take a breath and try to remember the good things about the day. Lately (among other things) is that there is no one currently occupying the apartment directly above me, so I’m grateful that it’s quiet. Then I name the people in my circle who are in need of healing or just general divine light, a list that always ends with my dog, Rose, and me. Finally, I say a prayer of thanks for the bounty of food at my table. And after all of that, I feel blessed.
Painting by Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber
Discussion
8 comments for “The Real Deal”
Leave a Reply
About this Site
FIRST PERSON SINGULAR is a guide to surviving, thriving and sometimes just getting through a single day. Created by Wendy Braitman (more…)
Follow First Person Singular
Greatest Hits
© 2010 First Person Singular. 
Wendy – that is a wonderful routine. I really should incorporate this myself. Just the other day as I was eating dinner I found myself feeling sorry for myself..another dinner alone I thought. Instead I’d love to focus on what all I do have…not least of all the warm comforting meal I was about to enjoy when others haven’t yet eaten for the day. Gratitude is so important.
The routine changes my brain chemistry. I highly recommend some version of it.
I love this ritual, Wendy!
I am curious what a typical dinner is for you? Meal planning is one of my big annoyances in life!
PS. I realize this is a first-world problem and I’m thankful that I can, in fact, go to the grocery store and afford to buy food!
On Sundays, I like to cook things to store in the freezer. Last night, I pulled out a container of chicken enchiladas. (A great recipe from Cooks Illustrated https://goo.gl/ESPQ2y.) I eat a lot of composed salads avocado, garbonzo beans that I’ve marinated in a vinaigrette, radishes, cukes, blue or goat cheese) Also, I have a variety of takeout within walking distance – Jewish deli, pizza, Chinese food, rotisserie chicken.
I applaud you for this, Wendy. Periodically, I write down 5 things I’m grateful for before I go to sleep. However, after a couple of weeks, it seems just like another rote thing on my to-do list, another empty ritual. But I’ll try it before a meal now. Thanks for the inspiration!
This has become one of the nonnegotiables in my day. No matter how pissed off I’m feeling, or how eager I am for that first sip of martini and bite of dinner, I take the time to say thanks. Game changer.
I was feeling pretty sorry for myself all morning today. More so than just the usual stuff, in fact. Gratitude is not an ingrained practice with me, I’m sorry to say.
On the days of feeling the most sorry for myself is when I force the gratitude even more. That’s when you really need to remember all the good stuff.