You would little believe that I can say to you now across the gap of 35 years that we are the blessed ones. The people of Britain are happy (or not) because of Tolpuddle Martyrs, Chartists, infantry regiments, any number of ancestors who made the world more comfortable for them - Stephen Fry http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/30/stephen-fry-letter-gay-righ…
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognising and appreciating what we do have -Fredrick Koeing
Tragedy has us under regard - Geoffrey Hill http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9337911/Dithering-Europe-is-heading-…
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you - John E. Southard
Once I only thanked Santa Claus for a few dolls and crackers, now I thank him for stars and street faces and wine and the great sea. Once I thought it delightful and astonishing to find a present so big that it only went halfway into the stocking. Now I am delighted and astonished every morning to find a present so big that it takes two stockings to hold it, and then leaves a great deal outside: it is the large and preposterous present of myself, as to the origin of which I can offer no suggestion except that Santa Claus gave it to me in a fit of peculiarly fantastic goodwill - G.K.Chesterton, http://www.gratefulness.org/readings/dsr_chesterton.htm
May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more - traditional Irish blessing
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch, he said to me, "You must not ask for so much." And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door, she cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?" - Leonard Cohen, Bird on the Wire
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others - Cicero
Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs - Joseph Stalin
Gratitude can have such a powerful impact on your life because it engages your brain in a virtuous cycle. Your brain only has so much power to focus its attention. It cannot easily focus on both positive and negative stimuli. It is like a small child: easily distracted. Oh your tummy hurts? Here's a lollipop. So you lost your job? Isn't it wonderful we're having KFC for dinner? On top of that your brain loves to fall for the confirmation bias, that is it looks for things that prove what it already believes to be true. And the dopamine reinforces that as well. So once you start seeing things to be grateful for, your brain starts looking for more things to be grateful for. That's how the virtuous cycle gets created - The Grateful Brain - Alex Korb http://exp.lore.com/post/38237354141/gratitude-can-have-such-a-powerful…