Time For Some Gratitude?

[Photo Credit: Manki Kim]

Just now, I made myself a cup of special jasmine tea. One name for this particular tea is “Jasmine Pearls”. Each ‘pearl’ is really a little hand-rolled leaf-sphere of jasmine and green tea leaves. Who rolls them into these little ‘pearls’? I have no idea. After researching my tea choices, I do know that the jasmine pearl workers are ethically treated, and yet they remain quite the mystery to me.

And so tonight I took my 3 little ‘jasmine pearls’ and lobbed them ever so carefully into some 80°C filtered water in one of my favourite mugs. As the hot water caressed these little ‘pearls’, they each unfolded like a flower and released a pleasant aroma which filled the room. As I sipped gently at the tea, I could feel my stomach relax a little from it’s earlier ‘binging on chocolate’ tension. I ignored the now unfolded leaves which have now completely abandoned their earlier pearl shape and which now look more like drowning tarantulas, occasionally brushing by my moustache as I sipped my tea in peace. It’s almost a ritual.

My dog chose the moment that I’d turned slightly away from my mug to press her wet nose against the cup right where my lips had been. AAAAAAAARGH! Belllllaaaa! She looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression on her face before wandering away to nap and snore.

My jasmine tea moment had been ruined!

It was around then that I came to my senses. I realised that the world at large is in the grips of a pandemic. So many challenges face us all. A jasmine tea with the imprint and residual funk of a dog’s nose is not that bad really.

The incident reminded me of an earlier moment where I’d walked into the same room and found an upturned plate on the ground and some crumbs. My dog had found a plate of cookies and had swung into action, sweeping the plate off the coffee table and demolishing the cookies. She looked so innocent and unaffected afterwards. Remembering this earlier food burglary got me chuckling.

When I’ve been touring (back when it was allowed), I often sing a song of mine called “We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)”. When I introduce the song, I often talk about how finding little things to be grateful for is the secret to getting through the huge things which could overwhelm us. I wrote the song as I tried to come to grips with the world we live in.

According to Amy Morin of Psychology Today, being grateful opens the door to more relationships, improves physical health, improves psychological health, enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people sleep better. Gratitude improves self-esteem and increases mental strength.

The two lifestyle choices I’m finding a key to getting through tough times are realising that kindness connects us all and gratitude gives us perspective - a perspective which can save us in the long run.

So that’s my two cents. I’m going back now to my doggy-nose-smeared jasmine tea.

We Just Gotta Be (Grateful)

Verse 1:

Sometimes it’s overwhelming
This life’s misunderstandings
The world, the chaos of it
And all it’s dark surroundings
I wish I had what you have
Exchange my joy for your fad
This life, the meaning of it
Come back to where we started

Chorus:

Sometimes, we just gotta be grateful
Sometimes, we just gotta be grateful

Verse 2:

I see my friends, my family
Our love in all it’s beauty
The sun, it keeps on rising
Each day a new horizon
I try to count my blessings
So many wonderful things
I see my joy, I choose it
I’m back to where I started

Words & Music by David Willersdorf
Copyright © 2017 David Willersdorf
Administered by SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia