Gratitude is a beautiful, peaceful and sweet word. It's a feeling and improves our personality and builds character. How does it develop? Gratitude develops out of humility. It is a feeling of thankfulness toward others - all souls! It is conveyed through our attitude towards others and reflects in our behavior. To me, gratitude does not mean paying back good deeds as its not give and take. A good deed cannot be cancelled by a counter act. Things such as kindness, understanding, and patience cannot be repaid.

What does gratitude teach me? It teaches me how to be co-operative and understanding. Gratitude must be sincere. A simple thank-you can be gracious. Many times we forget to be thankful to the people closest to us. Gratitude would rank among the top qualities that form the character and personality of an individual with integrity. Ego stands in the way of showing gratitude. A gracious attitude changes our outlook in life. With gratitude and humility, right actions come naturally.

Gratitude ought to be a way of life, something which we cannot give enough of. It can mean a smile, a thank you, or a gesture of appreciation. Think of your most precious possessions. What makes them special? In most cases, the gift is less significant than the giver. Seldom are we grateful for the things we already possess.

Recall the people who had a positive influence on your life. Your parents, teachers, anyone who spent extra time to help you. Perhaps it appears that they just did their job. Not really. I've figured that what they did was out of love and they willingly sacrificed their time, effort, money and many other things for you. They did it out of love and not for your thankfulness. At some point, a person realizes the effort that went in to help them shape their future. Perhaps it is not too late to thank them. And it is time to reciprocate.