I just made four cheeseburgers. It's 8:20 pm and I'm reflecting on the day. Four cheeseburgers! Medium, sharp cheddar, pickles, onions and chik-fil-a sauce. Thank you. I had no idea sweet potato fries take almost half an hour in the oven. I wildly overshot the timing of the sweet potato fries, and now there are 2.75 fresh hot burgers on my kitchen counter waiting for their fries to catch up. (ha!) But my hunger has already been satisfied. No more burgers will be consumed tonight. (Probably.) Did I make too many? No matter, a cold burger is also one of my favorite breakfasts.

The cashiers at Trader Joes were very pleasant. We got into a lively conversation about burgers. “Sweeny Swiss” I believe is the name of the burger place the older gentleman recommended. I must remember to try it sometime.

What does it mean, really, to have an attitude of gratitude? Sometimes just saying the words seems to have a downing effect on me. Like I’m hearing a platitude. I think it’s because part of me still doesn’t believe it’s really possible to change one’s attitude, or how you feel. But I know it’s more subtle than that.

If I’m tired, or stressed, or there’s too much sun on my face, or I hate the socks I’m wearing, or I’m stuck in traffic and stressed because I’m late, there’s not much I can do to change how I’m feeling about those things. But I don’t think that’s where our ability to choose our attitude applies.

I think we only get to choose our attitude towards life itself. Towards this big, mysterious thing that subsumes all the traffic and sweat and bunchy socks. Towards the source of all the annoyances, stresses, and tired moments.

So that’s the distinction. I don’t have to lie to myself and say I’m grateful for the traffic. When I’m pissed, I’m gonna acknowledge that I’m pissed. But I can also acknowledge that I’m grateful for the opportunity to be pissed.