Gratitude

Video & Discussion Activity

Source:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuzzkFZr7Eo

A Moving Art original short by filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg presented at TED. Spoken word and music montage created and composed by Gary Malkin. Narration written and spoken by Brother David Steindl-Rast.

Discussion

What do you understand by “gratitude”?

Can you name five things or situations you are grateful for?

Read and comment the following quotes. What do they mean? Do you agree/disagree with anyone in partcular? Why?

 

Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau Silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone. - Gertrude Stein As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John F. Kennedy Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs. - Joseph Stalin It's a sign of mediocrity when you demonstrate gratitude with moderation. - Roberto Benigni

Watching the Short

1.First watching: Answer the questions that follow.

a)What is the film’s message?

b)What are some of the gifts mentioned?

2.Second watching: Use the verbs in the box to complete the text. Then, watch the clip again to check your work.

FLOW  CAN   RESPOND   EXPERIENCE   OPEN   COME   GO    LET     DO      BE     TURN   LOOK     BEGIN    NOTE     MEET    THINK   CULTIVATE    HAVE (2)   GIVE

You think this is just another day in your life? It's not just another day. It's the one day that (1)................................ given to you today. It's given to you. It's a gift. It's the only gift that you (2)................................... right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness. If you (3).................................. nothing else but to (4).................................... that response to the great gift that this unique day is, if you learn to (5)..................................... as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.

(6)............................ by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can (7).............................., that incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us for pure enjoyment. Look at the sky. We so rarely (8).................................  at the sky. We so rarely (9).............................. how different it is from moment to moment, with clouds coming and going. We just (10).................................. of the weather, and even with the weather, we don't think of all the many nuances of weather. We just think of good weather and bad weather. This day, right now, (11)......................... unique weather, maybe a kind that will never exactly in that form (12)........................ again. That formation of clouds in the sky will never be the same as it is right now. Open your eyes. Look at that.

Look at the faces of people whom you (13)................................ Each one has an incredible story behind their face, a story that you could never fully fathom, not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. We all (14)........................... back so far, and in this present moment, on this day, all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world (15)........................... together and meets you here like a life-giving water, if you only open your heart and drink.

Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization (16).............................. to us. You flip a switch and there is electric light. You (17)......................... a faucet and there is warm water and cold water, and drinkable water. It's a gift that millions and millions in the world will never (18)..............................

So these are just a few of an enormous number of gifts to which we (19)............................. open your heart. And so I wish you that you will open your heart to all these blessings, and (20)............................ them flow through you, that everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you, just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch, just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you, and then it will really be a good day.

Answers here!