Better than a gratitude journal

(marc here) The wisdom of wise and venerable psychologists on the subject of human happiness is often to keep uppermost in one's mind the many reasons to be happy. In fact, to cultivate ongoing gratitude and maintain a rhythmic practice of daily recording the various benefits of your life in a "gratitude journal". It's good advice, but I lack the impetus and discipline for it.

Cycle touring is a intense immersion into a swirling vat of gratitude. It is an mnra vaccine against self absorbed cynicism. It's not overly dangerous but we are exposed to a dose of unusual discomfort. The enemies can gang up on you: the distance, the hills, the weather, the cars, the campsites, the food, navigation.There is physical discomfort and mental anguish.

Only with our heightened sense of vulnerability comes the gratitude. Helpful people, the discovery of a cliff bar, sunshine, a tailwind, a store a bakery, a clean bathroom, biscuits with sausage and white pepper gravy, a storm that isn't and on and on. In our state of relative deprivation the simple pleasures become richer than fancy hotels and fine dining and various trappings of the good life.

That is the curious paradox of wheeling along barely self-supported and yet feeling like you never had it so good.