“… the more you become a connoisseur of gratitude, the less you are a victim of resentment, depression, and despair. Gratitude will act as an elixir that will gradually dissolve the hard shell of your ego–your need to possess and control—and transform you into a generous being. The sense of gratitude produces true spiritual alchemy, makes us magnanimous—large souled.”
—Sam Keen, philosopher

In a world of distractions, quick fixes, and overt selfishness, it is imperative to look into our souls…to generate gratitude and practice it…to become “large souled” or, as I like to say: spacious in our compassion, appreciation, generosity, and love.

Gratitude, according to Sam Keen, can be an elixir – something that prolongs life and has transformative qualities. And the practice and/or sense of gratitude produces what Mr. Keen calls “true spiritual alchemy” – making us magnanimous, the hard shell of our ego transformed. We become generous beings.

Mr. Keen’s use of the word “connoisseur” is interesting – it can also mean “an expert in a particular subject”. How would that be? To be an expert in gratitude…being thankful for everything? Gracious and kind comes to mind right away. Forgiving and compassionate. Generous, as the  quote says. I’m in! What if we all practiced being “large souled”?

With horrific acts of violence on the rise in the United States, my request is for all of us to become connoisseurs of gratitude…experts…people of generosity and dissolved egos. Where shall we begin? I welcome thoughts, comments, ideas and inspirations. Please contribute!