GRATEFULNESS- IS IT INNATE ?

SINCE MY RECENT CAR ACCIDENT-SEE POSTING 22-JAN.2, 2008- I HAVE RECEIVED MUCH CONCERN, SUPPORT AND ATTENTION FROM FRIENDS, FAMILY AND ACQUAINTANCES ALIKE .IN RELATING MY TALE OF WOE-WHICH THANKFULLY INCURRED NO FURTHER DAMAGE THAN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF CAR REPAIR-I HAVE DERIVED SOME SUBTLE DELIGHT FROM THE RECOUNTING OF THE EVENT. AFTER ALL, I AM VERY MUCH IN THE LIMELIGHT AS I SHARE THE UNFORUNATE UNFOLDING OF THIS ‘SMASHING’ CONCLUSION TO THE OLD YEAR .PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD RESPOND TO MY CONVERSATIONS WITH POLITE ATTENTION NOW APPEAR SINCERELY INTERESTED, ENGROSSED IN MY ACCOUNT.
TOGETHER WITH GENUINE CONCERN, I HAVE ALSO DETECTED A SENSE OF PLEASURE, EXPRESSED IN HUMOR AND LAUGHTER, MEANT I AM SURE, TO LIGHTEN MY BURDEN OF DISTRESS AND UNHAPPINESS. BEYOND THE HUMAN RESPONSE TO HELP ANOTHER LURKS, I BELIEVE, A DEEPLY EMBEDDED SENSE OF RELIEF AND SATISFACTION, A PRIMITIVE PRICK OF GRATEFULNESS, AT HAVING BEEN SPARED SUCH DIFFICULTY AND CHALLENGE.
WITNESS THE SCENE OF ANY ACCIDENT OR MISHAP. TYPICALLY IT ENGENDERS A BURST OF INTEREST AND CURIOSITY. SPECTATORS HOLD UP TRAFFIC AS THEY RUBBERNECK, CONVEYING AN ALMOST PERVERSE SENSE OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE DISASTERS OF OTHERS. DOES THIS PHENOMENON NOT EXPLAIN IN LARGE PART THE WIDE APPEAL OF TRAGIC AND PAINFUL REPORTING ON LOCAL EVENING TELEVISION NEWSCASTS?
WHY DO DECENT PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES FASCINATED BY THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS? IN PART IT TOUCHES THAT WHICH ENABLES US TO FEEL EMPATHIC TOWARD OTHERS.
I AM CONVINCED, HOWEVER, THAT A DEEPLY INGRAINED SENSE OF GRATEFULNESS IS ALSO TAPPED INTO AT SUCH TIMES. WHEN HEARING OF OR WATCHING THE CALMITIES OF OTHERS, WE SAY TO OURSELVES: “THANK GOD IT WASN’T ME! I THANK MY LUCKY STARS IT WAS THEIR FAMILY AND NOT MINE!” IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE CERTAINLY WISH NO ILL ON OTHERS. YET, IF ANYONE IS TO BE SPARED THE WRATH OF GOD, FATE OR LUCK, WHY NOT MY LOVED ONES AND ME?
HOWEVER SELFISH THE RESPONSE, IT IS STILL COLORED BY THE SENSE OF BEING FORTUNATE, OF BEING BLESSED, LEADING TO A FEELING OF PRIMITIVE, EVEN ‘SELFISH’ GRATITUDE. PERHAPS THE HUMAN PSYCHE IS CONDITIONED TO REACT TO THE FACT OF SURVIVAL, OUR EARLIEST AND MOST PERVASIVE HUMAN INSTINCT, IN A WAY THAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS GRATEFULNESS, TO WHOMEVER OR WHATEVER THE FEELING MAY BE DIRECTED.
THIS IS THE BASIS UPON WHICH WE CAN ESTABLISH A MORE MATURE AND ALTRUISTIC ATTITUDE OF GRATEFULNES, ONE THAT EMBRACES OUR HONEST CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND FINDS EXPRESSION IN ACTS OF GENEROSITY AND GOODNESS.
WHEN RECOGNIZING OUR GOOD FORTUNE, WHY NOT ENLARGE OUR SENSE OF THANKFULNESS AND WELL-BEING INTO A RESPONSE OF CONCERN AND LOVE FOR OTHERS? I AM CONVINCED THAT SUCH A STIRRING OF OUR SOULS WILL BRING MUCH SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT TO OURSELVES AS WELL.