ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

I choose an attitude of gratitude;
No empty words of platitudes;
An attitude of gratitude
Deep down in my soul.
(rpt)

My life was filled with twists and turns;
My heart's been bruised and cut and burned;
No excuses left to give:
Just love to share and life to live.
I'm looking at the good things,
The lovely, noble, beautiful;
I'm talking 'bout the good things:
Kissed negative thoughts goodbye.

I choose an attitude of gratitude;
No empty words of platitudes;
An attitude of gratitude
Deep down in my soul.
(rpt)

When they write the plaque upon my grave,
Will they see my life as full of praise?
"Couldn't say a bad word against anyone"
"Was kind and patient, full of grace"?
Time and chance come to everyone:
It's how I live under the sun;
Yes bitterness is cheap to find:
I choose to leave all that behind.

I choose an attitude of gratitude;
No empty words of platitudes;
An attitude of gratitude
Deep down in my soul.
(rpt)

c.2011 M.Scott-Branagan

I wrote this song after my wife Liz had been talking about some of her own journey.  She has been inspired by Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts", and started her own gratitude journal.  Keeping a record of things to be grateful for, has been a great help to her as she seeks to deal with various heartaches and physical ailments.  Finding reasons for gratitude and praise (in the midst of life's storms) has been a wonderful key in dealing with our "baggage".  Avoiding negativity that sucks the life out of our hearts becomes easier and more satisfying as we make the choice to turn our hearts away from negative thoughts and dwell on the good and lovely things in our lives.