There are days when, even after being told "Let's be grateful," I don't feel thankful.

Yes, there are.

Quite often, actually.

From morning, my body feels heavy.

Contacting people seems bothersome.

My schedule is packed.

For some reason, I'm in a bad mood.

I'm still dwelling on something someone said yesterday.

On days like that, if someone suddenly says "I am grateful for everything," I subconsciously create some distance within myself.

What they are saying is probably not wrong.

Gratitude is important.

Of course, there are times when I can feel thankful.

However, the word "gratitude" can sound stiff if used at the wrong time.

If you suddenly tell someone who is tired, "You're not grateful enough," it becomes more of a reprimand than gratitude. The person on the receiving end will become even more exhausted, rather than feeling grateful.

Therefore, I think it's okay to have days when you don't feel thankful.

At least, you shouldn't blame yourself for it.

"It's not good to be unable to express gratitude."

"I must purify my heart further."

"Being in a bad mood over such trivial things means I haven't had enough training."

If you start with self-reflection like that, instead of getting closer to gratitude, new issues will arise within your mind. The internal meetings we have can easily turn into drawn-out affairs if we let them.

On days when you don't feel thankful, it's okay to just accept how you feel.

If you are tired, then you are tired.

If you are angry, then you are angry.

If you are sad, then you are sad.

If something is bothersome, then it is bothersome.

I don't think we need to cover those feelings with pretty words.

Gratitude is not a way to gloss over reality.

It's not about putting on a bright facade to hide the pain.

Rather, true gratitude may emerge after seeing reality.

However, when I say "seeing reality," it doesn't mean only focusing on the negative aspects.

Something unpleasant happened.

That is true.

I am tired.

That is also true.

But that is not all of reality.

This is important.

When your heart is down, the world seems much smaller.

One mistake.

One person's words.

One worry.

Those things spread across the entire screen.

It's like zooming in on a photo too much on your smartphone until you can no longer see what it depicts. If you zoom in too much with your fingers, it becomes nothing more than blurry colors.

At times like that, it is difficult to suddenly say "The world is full of things to be grateful for."

It's too big.

The words are suddenly too grand.

Therefore, let's look at it in a smaller way.

Water is coming out.

There is a futon.

Today, the traffic lights are working.

Someone is opening up the store.

A train is arriving.

There is someone who collects garbage.

The body, while complaining, has been moving this far today.

That's about it.

It doesn't have to be a huge feeling of excitement.

Your heart doesn't necessarily need to tremble.

You don't necessarily need to cry.

Just notice that "by the way, this is being supported."

Simply noticing that can slightly broaden your perspective on the world.

For example, water comes out from the tap.

Normally, it's taken for granted.

Because it's so commonplace, I think few people are moved by it. If you twist the faucet every time and say "Oh, civilization," getting ready in the morning will take a long time.

However, being able to drink water when you're not feeling well is quite helpful.

Being able to wash your face on a hot day is also appreciated.

The fact that we can cook or do laundry is because someone created the facilities and someone else maintains them.

When you think about it like that, gratitude suddenly stops being something you force yourself to feel.

It becomes closer to simply verifying a fact.

"Being supported."

Just notice that.

There's no need to try hard to be grateful.

There's no need to strive to feel thankful.

First, just notice one thing that is supporting you.

Sometimes, that's enough.

Of course, noticing that doesn't mean that bad things will disappear.

Even if water comes out, the problems at work remain.

Even if there's a futon, relationship troubles might still be present in the morning.

Even if the traffic lights are working properly, your mood might still feel like a red light.

But that's okay.

Gratitude is not magic to erase problems.

It's simply something to remind you that problems aren't everything in the world.

There is a harsh reality.

At the same time, there is support.

There are things that make you angry.

At the same time, there are things that help you.

There are things you can't understand.

At the same time, today, you are being supported by something.

See both sides of it.

If you only look at one side, your heart becomes extreme.

If you only see bad things, the world seems like an enemy.

If you try too hard to feel gratitude, then the suffering is left behind.

Therefore, see both sides.

This may seem simple, but it's surprisingly difficult.

When something unpleasant happens, people tend to focus on that side. This is unavoidable. We are wired to react to danger and discomfort. Our hearts say "fix this."

However, if you only listen to that voice, the support around you becomes invisible.

So, focus on just one thing.

The water you drank today.

The room where you can return.

The legs that moved for you.

The person who responded to you.

The desk quietly placed there.

Anything is fine.

When you notice it, a little space opens up in your heart.

Within that space, the feeling of "gratitude" may finally return.

It's okay if you can't say "thank you" from the beginning.

Rather, on days when you can't express gratitude, simply acknowledge those small supports.

The words "thank you" will be sufficient later.

I don't think gratitude is something that can be quickly created.

It involves seeing reality, acknowledging fatigue, and even recognizing unpleasantness, but still realizing that there was support.

That small "ah," which emerges at that moment, may be quieter and stronger than any forced brightness.

There will be days when you don't feel grateful.

And that is okay.

But even on those days, you can often find one source of support.

First, simply notice it.

Gratitude can slowly return later.