Last Monday marked World Gratitude Day, an occasion which invites us to consider a quality that is simple to practise but profound in its effect. Gratitude is often expressed in the familiar words “thank you”, but its real value goes much deeper. It begins with noticing what has been given.

Much of our attention can naturally be drawn towards what is missing: the thing we would like, the result we hoped for, or the difficulty immediately in front of us. Gratitude turns the attention in another direction. It asks us to notice what is already here — the people around us, the opportunities we have, the beauty of the natural world, a meal prepared for us, a friend who helps, or simply another day in which to learn and grow.

In this respect, gratitude is closely connected with our school motto, Rejoice in the Present. When we are truly attentive to the present moment, there is usually a great deal for which to be grateful. Our circumstances do not have to be perfect. Indeed, gratitude does not mean pretending that difficulties do not exist; rather, it prevents those difficulties from occupying the whole field of view.

For children, this is an important habit to cultivate. A grateful child begins to recognise that much of what supports a happy and productive life comes through the efforts of others. Parents, teachers, friends and many people they may never meet all contribute to the world they enjoy. Recognition of this naturally encourages consideration, generosity and a willingness to contribute themselves.

Perhaps the simplest way to develop gratitude is to practise it deliberately. At the end of the day, we might ask ourselves and our children: What happened today for which I am grateful? Often the answer will be something quite ordinary. Yet the more carefully we look, the more we discover that the ordinary is full of gifts.

And that is surely something worth noticing.

Peter Crompton, Principal