Entitlement, to Me, Means Receiving Without Gratitude

(Warning:  controversial subject matter, approach with caution)

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the third definition of entitlement is

"Belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges"

A lot of people talk about the entitled younger generation.  I don't see it in a general way.  A friend of mine described being entitled as receiving without feeling genuinely grateful.  That makes more sense to me.  Many negative or misunderstood issues can be related back to a lack of gratitude.

Understanding how to enjoy plentiful things with the gratitude you feel for something precious is a skill.  We can learn to have a childlike wonder all over again, it only takes practice.   It can bring joy to an ordinary experience, and joy creates more joy.  There is a definite place I go to in my heart when I savor something and it comes with a feeling "ahh, that (sunset; ice cream; bike ride) was amazing, wasn't it??"  Savoring is key.  You can't savor something and take it for granted at the same time.

When my kids had those days that they didn't want to go to school, I told them about how school was a privilege of the chosen few before it was mandated for every child.  Information helps stories become relatable.  There was a time that not all children were allowed to go to school, we are so lucky that we have incredible schools to better ourselves.

A warm house, a dependable car, food when we are hungry; do these sound like answers in the game show $10,000 pyramid?  If yes, the category would have to be: "things that we are lucky to have but sometimes take for granted."  Yes, everyone takes things for granted, that's human nature.

For my toddlers, I used to wait until they said "thank you" to give them privileges, with unlimited reminders until it becomes routine.  With older kids, we move onto a depth of understanding of the choices in our incredible lives, this is a "first world issue" becomes a frequent topic in our home.  We all take things for granted, none of us is perfect.  We all have unlimited chances to make things better.

It is overwhelming to be responsible for another human being; add to that the need to pay the bills, cook dinner, carpool, and sleep and there's not a lot of time left over to share your wisdom.  Car time and dinner time can be the best places to share your thoughts in a relaxed manner.   

Knowing we are lucky enough to not have to worry about basic essentials becomes a safety net for us, allowing us to use our energies for the greater good.  Attaching gratitude changes the dynamic from being entitled to not taking things for granted.  Learning to be grateful for small things usually translates into learning to be grateful for all things.  I firmly believe most of us want to be grateful, given the time and opportunity to be thoughtful about it.  It's another issue where digging deeply and creating space gives us the chance to become more mindful of our blessings.

Have a wonderful day!

Xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I intend to be grateful for my basic needs being met.

Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.