Gratitude's Simplicity

     "I am grateful."
      One day each year, we proclaim thanksgiving.  Yet, most days we say nothing more than, "Thanks," or, if we want to formalize our gratitude we say, "Thank you."  Enthusiasm's formality in English is, "Thank you very much."
     Gratitude.
     Too often, gratitude seems too grandiose for our energy's investment.
     Gratitude.
     Sometimes, gratitude is more than a common noun--it is a powerful threat.
      "You should be grateful.  Some people are less fortunate than you.  You have so much more.  You should be grateful."
      A grateful threat denigrates you--it denigrates the recipient of your gratitude.  
     Norwegians--my ancestors--have a marvelous expression of gratitude.  I pray translation does not dilute its beauty.
     My favorite??? Mange tusen takk.  "Many thousand thanks."
     What exponential power must beauty prove to warrant,
      "Many thousand thanks."
      May we appreciate beauty's exponent each day,
       "Mange tusen takk."