I heard a keynote presenter at the Four Corners Conference for Professional Development say, “Love in Greek means look for the good.” I’m no Greek scholar, but even if that’s not linguistically correct, it’s certainly good advice.
I’m not suggesting you should “love” all your coworkers or acquaintances, but imagine how your relationships might improve if you made it a habit to look for the good in everyone. Most people have something positive within them, even if it’s better hidden in some than others.
That reminds me of a woman known for always having something kind to say about everyone. A fellow church member challenged her one day, saying she could probably even find something good to say about the devil himself. The woman paused and replied, “Well, he’s a hard worker.”
Then there’s the story of a king and his court jester who often went hunting together. The king valued his jester’s cheerful, positive attitude. No matter what happened, the jester would always exclaim, “That’s great!”
One day, while hunting, the king accidentally shot off his left thumb. The jester immediately said, “That’s great!” Furious and in pain, the king threw the jester in jail for his insensitivity. As he was taken away, the jester called out again, “That’s great!”
Months later, the king went hunting alone and was captured by a band of cannibals – humanitarians of a different sort. They prepared their pot, added spices, and brought in the king for the feast. But when they noticed he was missing his left thumb, they refused to cook him, saying they couldn’t eat a “deformed” being.
Relieved and grateful, the king thought, “That’s great!”
Immediately, he remembered his jester sitting in jail and went to free him. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “I’ve been wrong to keep you imprisoned.” The jester smiled and said, “That’s great!” The king was exasperated. “You’ve been in jail for nearly a year, how can that be great?”
“Simple,” the jester replied. “If I hadn’t been in jail, I would have been hunting with you.” Smiling, he then held up both his thumbs.
Cute story, but with a powerful truth: we can choose to look for the good in others and in every situation. Life isn’t perfect, and neither are the people around us. You can focus on others’ flaws if you wish. They may be doing the same to you. You can see your cup as half empty or half full; it’s your choice.
But this Thanksgiving season, I invite you to look intentionally for what’s right in your life and in others. To help you start, here’s a simple exercise:
Each morning, before the day’s busyness begins, jot down on an index card ten aspects of your life for which you are thankful. They don’t have to be big; perhaps a family member, your work, a friend, your health, or even the chance to read The Tri-City Record. Then, throughout the day, glance at your list as a reminder of how much you have to be thankful for.
At first, finding ten items might feel like a stretch, but before long, your challenge will be limiting yourself to only ten. Over time, this daily habit will train your mind to look for the good, just as that keynote speaker encouraged.
Developing an “attitude of gratitude” won’t make life perfect, but it will make it better. You’ll notice more joy, more patience, and more grace for yourself and others.
So this Thanksgiving, and beyond, may you experience not only Happy Thanksgiving, but Happy Thanksliving.
P.S.: The next Four Corners Conference for Professional Development is set for Feb 26 at San Juan College.
Ron Price, who has a master’s degree in counseling from the University of New Mexico, is author of the “Play Nice in Your Sandbox” book series and creator of the CPR Mastery video course. He is available for workshops and staff training. Contact Ron at ron@ronprice.com and (505) 324-6328. Learn more at ronprice.com.
