Gratitude


Through those life changing and foggy (not even) few months from my dad's diagnosis to his death, I experienced every emotion in the human spectrum of feelings, some of them for longer periods than others.  Some of them I hope to never feel again.  Some of them I feel today.  Some of them I will always feel.

There was one that I actively pursued, though.  A feeling that I sought out and brought to my attention in dark and light hours alike.

That feeling is gratitude.

I was so incredibly grateful that even though we had a shockingly short amount of time left with him, we had SOME.  We could talk, share, ask, and care for one another in a way that is unique to knowing the end is near.

I was so incredibly grateful for my current position as a stay-at-home mom so that I could be there and do what needed to be done without worry of lost income, time off, or leave policies.

I was so incredibly grateful that the timing worked out in such a way that my brother was able to be there with us every step of the way, no longer living so far away.

I was so incredibly grateful for the support system that held us up and kept us going, kept us fed, kept us sane, and kept us from breaking.

When I struggled to see any positive in our heart wrenching situation, I would try to focus there.

Gratitude.  Be thankful.  

The day before our big day of thanks seemed an appropriate time to express that gratitude again and remember it.  Thank goodness for that gift, that time, that life.

It's easy to get bogged down in the negative, especially when things seem to be taking such a shitty turn in life, but with (sometimes great) effort, you can bring it back to gratitude and see how very much you truly have to be thankful for.  Some that come to mind for me are...

My family, here, there, and everywhere.
My man, my spouse, my rock.
The sound of children laughing.
The open mouthed kiss of my baby.
My yoga practice.
My son's sweet smile.
Security.
Simple pleasures.
My friend family.
Margaritas on Friday night.
That cheese monger at HEB Montrose Market.
Home cooked meals, including the one we will feast on tomorrow.
And stretchy waistbands that make room for more.

As you gather round your tables with family and friends, take time to reflect.  Think of what your thankful for and let it be known.  Share your gratitude, not just tomorrow but every single freaking day.

In time, you'll learn to be thankful for that, too.

Image Credit: positivepsychologyprogram.com.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shorts Under Dresses: An Underlying Issue

Image
A friend recently relayed a story to me about her 4 year old daughter and a dress code at the preschool she attends.  Girls are required to wear shorts underneath their skirts, which is no big deal if your child goes along with the policy. In my friend's case, however, her daughter wasn't on board and it made for a very trying and tiring ordeal getting ready on school days. Getting kids fed, dressed, and out the door with a healthy meal in hand is HARD work. Having to fight over a pair of shorts under an already perfectly reasonable garment is not a battle worth waging. In order to regain calm in their morning routine, the teacher and mother discussed the conflict and came to an agreement. Her daughter could skip the shorts so long as she wore long dresses or skirts. Problem solved, right? Technically speaking, yes, the problem was solved. But it points to a much larger underlying issue that needs more illumination.  Our culture has an unhealthy relationship wi...
Read more

Three Years Today

Image
I knew this day was coming. It looms large in its approach each year. But this year, the third, was different. Even until yesterday I thought I would get through it more upbeat, more positive, more grateful than the two years before. Riding on a big emotional high will do that for you. We just got back from a long weekend celebrating the marriage of two people we hold so dear. It was, hands down, the most spectacular event I've ever had the pleasure of attending. Set on the stunning Amalfi coast. Surrounded by family. Forging new friendships with people who span the globe. Communicating without words when our languages didn't allow for conversation. Eating and drinking like royals. And, best and highest of all, witnessing the union of a couple whose love and appreciation of life and generosity to others knows no bounds. Simply put, magnifico! Prior to that I got to spend a little time with my mom and step dad, who came all the way up to our new home in Indiana to take ...
Read more

Smooth(er) Sailing

Image
                                                                                                          365 days, countless crying episodes, hours and hours and hours of reflection, thousands of words written and a few thousand more spoken, hundreds of hugs given, and yes, about a million beers ago, my dad died.  I can't believe it's been an entire year.  But as my brother said this morning, I can't believe it's ONLY been a year.  It seems like a different life. I expected this to be a long, emotional trip around the sun and it certainly lived up to that expectation. In a major way.  What I didn't expect were a multitude of silver linings.  As I find myself a lot less rough around the...
Read more