Gratitude-a dying virtue. . .

As kids we were taught the virtue known as ‘Gratitude’.

‘Remember your P’s and Q’s’, was the moral science teacher’s favourite quote :)

We made presentations and charts on the topic, Got our grades and the virtue just remained a ethics topic for many.  Come to think of it now, ’Gratitude’ is a virtue many preach but few practise. When was the last time you said, ‘Thank you’ to your parents? Or, for that matter, to anyone who had helped you? However insignificant it may seem.

Saying ‘Thank you’ to your parents and people around you will elicit disbelief [Experienced :)] but they’ll feel good that you acknowledge their efforts.

A simple act of gratitude can please a person, and sometimes even brighten up their mood!

There is one scene in particular from the film ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ in which the protagonist embraces the sweeper in the ‘Jaadu ki Jhappi’ and says, ‘Thank you’!   The sense of satisfaction and well being is tremendous for both the ends! We can never fully repay the ones who have helped us.The only way to show a little gratitude is by helping those who are following.

A poem from a self help book is perfect and says it all,

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An Old man, going on a lone highway

Came at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide-

The old man crossed the twilight dim;

The sullen streams had no fear for him;

But he turned, when safe on other side,

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,

"You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day;

You never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm deep and wide-

Why build the bridge at eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:

"Good friend, in the path I have come,

he said,"There followeth after me today

A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He too, must cross in twilight dim,

Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."
--Anonymous