Gratitude is a skill

Practiced again and again

Some instances with adroitness

Others with an awkward clunk

But it is a skill nonetheless

Not some gift or natural proclivity

It is born of work and sweat

This practice will cause us pain

The agony of lifting such a weight

But when the muscle fibers of our souls rip

They grow back stronger

Instance by instance gratitude comes easier

The weight we lift seems lighter

It requires less tension from our souls

We carry it as if always there

But if our practice wanes

Old weights once light will weigh on us

All at once we will feel the subtle deterioration

Remembering missed chances and reps skipped

Gratitude is a skill best practiced everyday

Again and again for the strength of our souls

And, so that we might help carry the weights of those around us