Gratitude is a skill that you practice and get better at, said a
ten-year-old boy in Tokyo one day when I was a teacher there.

yes, gratitude is something we learn
as we get older
accumulating wisdom and knowledge

but sometimes we forget

gratitude is something to be thankful for it is a skill worth
practicing over and over again until we get it right

we need to appreciate what's good in our lives instead of always
complaining looking at the negative side of things.

yes, gratitude is a skill that you practice and get better at month by
month year by year

and over a lifetime
we might finally learn how to say

thank you

thank you to the universe
thank you to our parents
thank you to our loved ones
thank you to our children
thank you to our teachers

gratitude is a skill that you practice until you get it just right and
it doesn't happen overnight

it takes a lifetime of rehearsals
awareness and an open mind
to fully appreciate all the good things that have come our way on this
journey from not being to being on this pilgrimmage among the stars on
this pathway to enlightenment and aha!

Learn to say thank you
in as many languages as you can master and tell it to everyone you
love and care for

thank you
thank you
thank you

arigato,
merci,
gracias,
xie xie,

and as you practice gratitude
day by day
year by year
zen koan after zen koan

gratitude will become you
it will suit you fine
and you will become one
with thankfulness.

Gratitude is more than a 9-letter word,
it is a gift from life.

Use it!