From 6th through 12th grade, my school required its students to memorize and recite a speech or poem in English class. Some years we were tasked with writing the speech, others we just memorized a poem. We would then deliver our presentations on the dreaded “Speech Day” –a day you could guarantee kids would call out sick.
For my first Speech Day, I memorized “Almost Perfect” by Shel Silverstein. It starts out like this:
“Almost perfect… but not quite.”
Those were the words of Mary Hume
At her seventh birthday party,
Looking ’round the ribboned room.
“This tablecloth is pink not white–
Almost perfect… but not quite.”
Each stanza describes Mary Hume expressing discontent throughout her life– about her boyfriend, job, and even heaven after she dies. I remember thinking at 12 years old how awful it must be to be around Miss Mary Hume.
10 years later, I find myself reciting that poem in my head when I start complaining. Gratitude is not something that comes naturally to me. When I was younger, my parents had to ask me specifically what good things happened at school because if they simply asked, “How was your day?” I’d launch into a list of everything that went wrong.
However during my time at UNC, I have realized the value in practicing daily gratitude. I was gifted a daily gratitude journal by one of my campers in the summer of 2022, and it has now become one of the best parts of my day.
Practicing daily gratitude can strike down discontent like Mary Hume experienced and it can strike down anxiety. One of my favorite Bible Verses is Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I memorized this verse as a kid and never understood why it added the phrase “with thanksgiving.” Now I’ve realized, if we are looking back on our lives with thanksgiving for how we have been blessed, it gives assurance that God will continue to be faithful in the future, thus striking down anxiety.
There are also people in my life who have reminded me of the importance of gratitude. My best friend Rachel always responds to the question “How are you?” with “I’m doing better than I deserve.” At first, it’s a jarring response but when I look around at all of the blessings in my life it is true.
Another one of my best friends, Olive, and I had a long discussion about how life-changing daily gratitude can be. She recently got into dental school and said when people ask her how she is she cannot help but share “I woke up feeling so blessed” with a huge smile.
My professor Gary Kayye has emphasized time and time again that we control our happiness and perspective on things. While our perspective change may not fix a situation, it keeps the situation from robbing us of our joy. He shared the circle of control with us earlier in the semester, and I have had it saved to my desktop since.
Negativity is easy. Gratitude takes effort, but it will change your life.
