Last week, I blogged about the small things in life that give us pleasure–pomegranates, lost objects found, sunrises. I think of this as having gratitude. When I think of gratefulness, I think of the big stuff–freedom, family, health.

I was reminded of all that I have to be grateful for in one day recently. That day, I went to the library with my son, checking out books that had been recommended to me. One of the books I checked out was Viktor Frankl’s, "Man’s Search for Meaning," about his experience in concentration camps during WWII. It you’ve never read it, get it on Amazon (for $7!) or check it out at the library. It’s worth spending time with this book, especially during a season when it’s easy to have so much and appreciate so little of what really matters.

Quotes from the book that are particularly striking: "…everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms–to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way."

"…it did not really matter what we [the prisoners] expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We need to stop asking ourselves the meaning of life and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life–daily
and hourly. "

"…there is also purpose in that life which is almost barren of both creation and enjoyment…If there is meaning in life at all, there there must be meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete. "

I’ll leave you to ponder those powerful words without my commentary. Two other experiences from that same day I read Frankl’s book:

• At a potluck gathering held by the karate studio my son attends, the owner and head instructor spoke briefly. Shihan, as he is known at the dojo, was born overseas–in Iran, I think. He has traveled all over the world, competing in world karate championships, both as a participant and as an officiator. And when he returns home, he notices how much he has. That night, Shihan recalled asking in his classes for kids how many toys each of his young charges has. One kid said, "Maybe 1000." Another said, "Maybe 800." Knowing how much my kids have, this is not child-like exaggeration. Then he asked the the audience how many bathrooms are in their house. It was clear that the one-bathroom house had died a long time ago, at least in our part of the world. Our world, the world that I know and many of you know, has never been more abundant. We are moving up on Maslow’s hierarchy.

• Later that evening, my husband exchanged notes on our day. He had attended a day long seminar sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education. One of the speakers was an educator and researcher who had grown up in the old Soviet Union. Now living in the US, this woman recounted being in the crowd, listening to political leaders speak and listening for the bell that would signal when to stop clapping. Clapping was expected but no one wanted to be the first to stop. Clapping could go on for 45 minutes without an authorized signal to stop. Things are not perfect in this country. And I am grateful that we have still have the freedom to applaud or not our political leaders.

I have much to be grateful for. My guess is that you do, too.