The Gratitude Martini

By: Marjie Martini

Once upon a time there was a girl who had it all! But, somewhere along the way to getting everything she forgot to be grateful. This is when life intervened and she was introduced to the Gratitude martini. This is a martini that you have to savor, it makes you appreciate the effort behind creating it and you realize how grateful you are to be consuming this martini. It is always interesting to me that just when you feel that you are on top of the world, the moment that you do not appreciate it, life has a funny way of reminding you that you are just one small part of the master plan.

It was the day before Thanksgiving and I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, literally, putting together the final touches for my 20 person dinner party. In the midst of my frenzy my cell phone rang and it was an old girlfriend of mine. She happened to be in town for the night and wanted to go for a martini. We arranged to meet at a quite martini bar, where we could chat and get all caught up on our lives. I was excited to visit with this girlfriend as I had not seen her in over a year and we had only kept brief tabs on each other. Besides, I would need a martini after this day of racing around.

When I arrived, she was seated at the bar looking totally classy and chic. This woman was always put together, with the latest designer everything. She was a powerhouse, completely in control of every aspect of her life. She had it all, the fantastic career, great husband and fabulous kids. Not to mention the cars, houses and trips that all came with some serious cash. But, to me she was still just Susie, mainly because our friendship began long before she had acquired everything. After exchanging a long hug, we settled in for a cozy chat and a martini. I was also please to see one of my favorite martini mixologists behind the bar; I was delighted when he produced a special martini for us. It was the Gratitude martini,

“ after my first sip I realized how thankful I was to taste this mixture.”

The Gratitude martini is very special as it requires effort to make. But, oh my god, it is worth it! It is a combination of Vodka infused with cinnamon and Sour Apple Schnapps. But what captured me about this martini was the glass rimmed with brown sugar and crushed almonds. This martini was the perfect addition to our intimate conversation; it is a martini that you sip slowly because you want the flavors of apple, cinnamon and almonds to last forever. As I sat back savoring my martini and unwinding from my hectic day, I observed my girlfriend. At first glance Susie looked fabulous but upon closer inspection I noticed the tiredness around her eyes and a few stress lines on her forehead. Even when she smiled, it seemed forced and not genuine. I made the comment that she did not seem herself and asked “was she ok?” That was all it took, the flood gates opened and tears started to stream down her face.

I was stunned as I sipped my Gratitude martini; this was my girlfriend who had the world at her feet. But now she was miserable. How could she be that unhappy? As her story unraveled I listened to her complain about all the things that she had not achieved. Susie was perplexed by the fact that her husband wanted a divorce and her employer was hinting at a job separation. Her life was in shambles. But even with her life falling apart all she could focus on was what she wanted: the bigger house, new SUV and the next promotion at work, with the increase in salary. As I sat back and sympathized with her story I began to wonder how she had become so obsessed with the concept of “More”. Susie seemed focused on everything that she did not have, but when I asked her what she really wanted or how much did she need? She had no reply. When is enough, enough? I asked her if she had ever seen the billboard sign that says “The man that dies with the most toys, is still dead”. She giggled and commented that maybe she was striving for too much but how could she stop. It was then that I pointed out that she already had everything and when was the last time she was appreciative. Did the material possessions really matter, if she lost her husband and children? I asked her when was the last time that she stopped for more than 5 minutes to think about how grateful she was for the air that she breathed, her healthy body, the food that she ate, the martini that she was drinking or the people that love and care about her? Susie, just looked at me stunned, then she reached for her Gratitude martini and started to sob. As I wiped her tears she thanked me for calling her on her shit, for Susie reality had finally hit home.

Conclusion:

Thanksgiving brings out all the comfort foods of the fall; the Gratitude martini breathes the flavors and aromas of cinnamon and apple with the sweetness of sugared almonds. This martini will make you reflect and take a moment to be truly thankful. When our lives and martinis are simpler, we tend to have a greater appreciation. Next time you take a sip of this martini or any martini, take a moment to be grateful for all that you have, it might be then that you realize the obsession with “More”. Remember, obsessions are rarely satisfied and they are never as fulfilling as Gratitude.

Intuitive Thoughts By Marjie Martini

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