Four years ago, I underwent cataract surgery on my left eye. My doctor refused to perform the same surgery on my right eye, because it still produced better than 20/20 vision—with a cataract. Since then, I witnessed that cataract get progressively worse—only because I had a repaired eye to compare it with. A couple of weeks ago, I had my right eye repaired. Being an artist, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be able to once again see the full spectrum of Earth’s colors in their pure beauty—such a simple pleasure that I took for granted when young.
After my surgery, I was reading up on cataracts and was stunned to read that over 50% of blindness, worldwide, is caused by untreated cataracts. As I sat thinking about how fortunate I had been to have both of my eyes repaired, I wept…
When I was a young man, I came across a poem about gratitude that moved me deeply—the author is unknown. I have since used that poem in my speeches. Here is the last stanza of that poem:
With feet to take me where I’d go,
With eyes to see the sunsets glow,
With ears to hear what I would know,
Oh God, forgive me when I whine,
I am blessed indeed; the world is mine.
Throughout my life, I have revisited that poem often to remind myself of my many blessings and to live with an attitude of gratitude. When I write in my journal, I often write down things I am grateful for. This activity enables me to “count my blessings.” Here are some of the things I’m most grateful for:
* Plenty of healthy food to eat
* A roof over my head
* My health
* A wife and children who love me
One of my favorite country songs is “Richest Man on Earth” by Paul Overstreet. Here is the chorus:
We’ve got a roof over our head
And the kids have all been fed
And the woman I love most
Lies close beside me in our bed
Lord, give me the eyes to see
Exactly what it’s worth
And I will be the richest man on earth
(Don Schlitz / Paul Lester Overstreet)
In a society where we are conditioned to want newer, bigger, better—and more, always more—I have found that it is easy to lose sight of how blessed we really are. I believe that living with an attitude of gratitude and reminding ourselves of how much we already have is a key to happy living.
Malcolm Forbes famously claimed, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Some wise and knowing soul (anonymous) countered with these words, “He who dies with the most joys wins.”