She's Making Me Breakfast - What My Girlfriend Taught Me About Gratitude

It can be very easy to let others offend our egos, to forget to be grateful for the positive impact they have in our lives. Let’s talk about gratitude.

She Was Making Me Breakfast

I was getting annoyed that my girlfriend wouldn’t talk to me while she was making me breakfast. If you can’t already see the problem with my line of thinking, then this article is just as much for you as writing it is for me.

She worked sternly and diligently, not making eye contact, her movements sharp and at times even violent. Something was clearly bothering her, but all attempts to ask had sharply been cut off. The longer she refused to speak, the angrier I got. “How dare she?” I thought. “This is my house, and I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t deserve this.”

Rather than lash out, however, I thought for a few moments. I was right, it WAS my house, and I DIDN’T deserve the snappy attitude… Yet I was angry that my girlfriend wouldn’t talk to me…While she was making me breakfast. While she was doing something for me that she didn’t have to do. Something I didn’t even ask her to to do. While she was clearly having a bad day, even if I didn’t know why.

Gratitude

Once I looked at the situation through this new lens, my anger faded. It was replaced by embarrassment and gratitude. So what if she wasn’t feeling conversational? She hadn’t picked a fight with me. She wasn’t breaking things. She was doing something for me that showed how much she loves me. She was just doing it her own way.

Realizing what I had to be thankful for allowed me to back off, swallow my pride, and not force the issue. My ability to look past my ego and focus on what I should be grateful for lead to not only avoiding an argument, but appreciation later on.

Now, before I start talking about how you can apply this principle anywhere and with anyone, there are of course stipulations. Someone doing something for you doesn’t entitle them to treat you badly. There is a balance. However, if you practice strength and self respect along with gratitude, you will rarely if ever be in a situation where that happens. You will surround yourself with people that you are grateful for and that are grateful for you.

Outside of extreme circumstances and people that you should avoid anyway, this line of thinking inevitably leads to a happier and more peaceful life.

Who Are You Grateful For?

As always, I want to hear from all of you. What people in your life are you grateful for? Tell us about the times you’ve overcome the temptation to be angry with someone, and remembered how grateful you are for them.