the science of gratitude

I'm feeling a little inspired this week. I'm not sure the cause specifically, though I can point to a few possible suspects. First of all, I witnessed possibly the most amazing natural event of my life this past week: a sunrise. Sure, sure, you're thinking, this is going to be one of those "I saw something mundane in a new way and it changed my perspective" moments, but uh... yeah, it is. From the railing of a Buddhist temple in Busan, I saw the sun rise -- the actual physical sun rising from the sea into the sky.


Whenever I've tried to watch sunrises before I've always sort of missed it. Maybe this is appropriate because I think I've always missed the point, too. Maybe it's been too cloudy or I've been too impatient, or maybe the universe has just been withholding the revelation of this daily routine until now: this very Saturday, September 25th, at 6:17 in the a.m., when it all fell - or rather, rose - into place. That seemingly perfect orange ball appearing to originate, if falsely so, from some point on the horizon, discloses itself so amazingly and yet also relievingly in its clockwork predictability. How interesting that we should gather at this little steel railing to observe something that happens every single day, often without us. We don't consider the immense rotation of our planet, the work it must humbly suffer every single day to face the sun, turning and turning again until it is dark for us and bringing light to someone else. Instead, we consider how it affects our busy lives: the sun in our eyes, the period of remaining daylight, the heat, the glare, the morning, the passing of our precious schedules, etc etc. But Saturday, on the edge of a railing overlooking a cliff pointing out into the sea across a vast expanse of earth, I considered my gratitude for the sun and the stability it provides me. This is the same sun that has watched me forever, and it is the same sun I will see for the rest of my life.

I've thought a lot about gratitude because currently my students are working on an essay called "The Science of Gratitude" in their reading class, about an experiment asking people to compose lists of things in their lives for which they are grateful. Apparently, if done every day, this is proven to not only reduce stress, but also improve mental processes like problem solving, bolster immune response, and generally make people feel happier. What a concept. In addition, one of my co-teachers is encouraging me worry less about making my class "English conversation instruction" and more about just teaching what I want to teach... using English. What a concept. I'm wondering if I can use this story on gratitude to encourage my students to generate and share their own lists of thanks -- thereby crafting a lesson that is not only utilizing English, but also playing on those good old Essential Questions that my grad school compatriots will agree are really the whole point (not to mention the fun) of working in education. What a concept. I've been struggling with how to make this teaching -- which often feels pointless as it is so de-emphasized by the administration and so un-prioritized by the overworked students -- feel meaningful. If I can't make the learning of English meaningful in itself (hey, I tried...) then at least I can attempt to change the content and make that more meaningful, hopefully improving the students' ability to use the language as a means to a much greater end. Now that's a concept I can get behind.

I would be well advised to begin my own practice of Gratitude Lists.

Today I am grateful for:

1. my co-teachers, who not only inspired me today to put more emphasis on my own interests in the classroom, but also help me set up my online ex-pat banking, and are generally lovely people
   
2. my apartment, which is clean and mostly quiet, and a fine place to call home for a year, inspiring me to recharge my batteries, live with simplicity, and recognize what essentials are truly essential
   
3. my family, who continually inspire me to look for goodness and to maintain perspective -- without the support of them, I doubt that I would be so determined to seek gratitude in the first place
   

This is a good list for today. Perhaps inspiration comes from gratitude -- reflecting on all that's good motivates me to move forward and create more good. Looking at the beautiful sunrise, and thereby being grateful for it, inspires me to take a picture so I can not only remember that moment and reflect on its significance, but also to remind myself that I must actively appreciate the beautiful moments that surround me every day. Taking a picture is not only a momento of whatever thing you are photographing, but it is also a practice in appreciating whatever and whoever is around you. By recognizing these moments, I am inspiring myself to be positive and to be grateful. I am thankful for that.