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Monday, November 16, 2009

THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Every so often, whenever I read through old blog posts and realize how bitter I've become, I like to pause for a moment and think of things for which I'm actually grateful. And since we're so close to Thanksgiving, I figured now would be as good a time as any to be appreciative of the wonderful gifts I've been given. So here are a few of the things I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

- The engraved sign hanging on the bathroom door in my doctor's office that reads: "PLEASE DO NOT URINATE WITHOUT PERMISSION!"

- The Chinese waiter at dinner last weekend who kept referring to me as "gentleman" and my friend as "lady" - as in: "You like some more water, gentleman? How 'bout you, lady?"

- Being able to watch my eighty-year-old great aunt try and park her car.

- and this commercial:

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, after I read your post, the overwhelming feeling that I'm left with is bitterness. Sometimes, it seems like you just keep dating the same girl from the upper west side over and over again and just get the same results. I'd like to see you go out with someone really unusual.

beforewisdom said...

Dude, you sense of humor really helped lift me up :)

Datehater said...

You ALWAYS make me laugh. Anyone who thinks you're a hater is clearly not in the hellish black hole known as the dating pool.

And p.s. I went to a wedding at this place. It's just as campy and over the top in person as in the commercials. I love it.

kinkybootbeasts said...

How is it even possible that this guy even talks like that? Do people really talk like that or is it just some horrible American stereotype??

Marc said...

Anon- I'm not quite sure which part of "Diary of a DISILLUSIONED Dater" made you think this blog was about unicorns and rainbows, but thanks for reading anyway. By "unusual" do you mean like an artsy, East Village type with eyebrow piercings, or an hermaphrodite with a bad haircut?

Dark Cloud Nine said...

I am badly frustrated that I could not see the video. I personally have a terrible weakness for cynical people. I always believe they will make an exception for me when they know me (as in: "everybody sucks except you"), which is why I can't help but feel attracted to your persona. I know. It's twisted.

freckledk said...

I'm going to go the rest of the day, calling everyone "gentleman" and "lady." It might be even better than the day I made a point to call everyone "Boo."

Unknown said...

Have you seen? This couple is STILL making commercials for the Grand Prospect Hall - they're just a little older now: "the Grand Prospect Hall -- we make your dreams come true!", with a slo-mo shot of a bride twirling around. Priceless.

Bored Man - Noph said...

Deciding to grateful is an important decision in a man's life. If you would like to read about the Jewish Orthodox take on gratefulness to Hashem you might be interested in buying any of the books of the late Rabbi Avigdor Miller. His basic idea is that the purpose of life is perfecting one's intellect and character traits by learning Torah and being grateful to Hashem. He takes over from Chovos HaLevovos the idea (taken from Mutazilites) that one can appreciate God's greatness in studying nature. Rabbi Avigdor Miller used to tell his followers to thank Hashem for all the little details in their lives. You have a belt buckle, he would say, thank Hashem for that. You would not be happy without a belt buckle. I think being grateful to God is the element of religion that makes religious people healthier and longer lived. You don't have to become religious. Just be grateful to Hashem for his kindness and learn Torah and daven daily and eat kosher and keep shabbos and put on tefillin and wear tsitsis and kiss the mezuza and light the menorah and celebrate pesach and celebrate sukkos and celebrate shevuos and celebrate rosh hashana and celebrate yom kippur and celebrate purim and fast on the 17 of tamuz and fast on 9th of av and fast on the other two fast days I forgot the names of.