Grounded Gratitude

Available for 29 days

Spiritual reflection to start the day with Rupa Mooker, a lawyer and member of Glasgow’s Sikh community. Script: Good Morning. Shukrana. This a word in Sikhi that I find particularly beautiful. It means gratitude - giving thanks for what we have and recognising the blessings in our lives. I know gratitude is something we hear a lot about. But life doesn’t always go to plan! When we experience disappointment, hurt, loss or uncertainty, it can be difficult to find anything to be grateful for. I don’t think gratitude means pretending those difficulties don’t exist, or feeling guilty because someone else might have it worse. For me, it’s about learning to hold two things at once: acknowledging what is difficult, while still recognising what is good. Things such as the friends who show up for us, the kindness of a stranger, a conversation that makes us laugh when we really needed it, or the simple comfort of sitting with someone we love. Shukrana is closely connected to remembering divine blessings, but also accepting that we can’t control everything that happens in our lives. For me, Shukrana is an invitation to pause and to stop focusing, even if it is just for a moment, on what I’m missing or what I haven’t achieved and to ask myself, “what is already here that deserves my thanks?” My prayer today is this: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh. Waheguru, help us to recognise the blessings in our lives, even when life feels tough. Teach us to appreciate the people and moments we might otherwise take for granted, and help us to turn our gratitude into kindness towards others. May we never be too busy to notice the good.