Thankfulness ~ Adversity ~ Perspective
November lends itself to being a month for thankfulness. However, since March I’ve been finding all kinds of new, smaller things to be grateful for that have opened my eyes to even more. With Thanksgiving around the corner, there has been a lot of uncertainty. Sometimes when times change or things get hard, I find myself having to reach for gratitude in different places and it’s been fascinating to me what I’m finding.
I’m finding more little details that I may never have noticed - like “Phat Gus”, the neighborhood squirrel, that scampers from our roof to our neighbors’ at the same time each evening and meets his buddy in the tree to play chase; it’s become a funny activity to watch and good party trick, as he’s like clockwork. I've also noticed the tree in our cul-de-sac that we have exercised under everyday since March, I’ve watched it change not only by seasons, but by shape depending on the time of day and where I lay my mat - I get a different perspective from the same exact tree. And flowers, I’ve been a flower fanatic since March, always keeping fresh flowers around the house. My mom used to do the same thing and I’d roll my eyes thinking what a waste. Now I get it, they bring color, life and joy.
Of course, I’m always thankful for my amazing friends and family and truly know how very lucky I am to have such a strong group of individuals in my life. And the community that surrounds me: our fantastic neighborhood where we all look out for each other; my fabulous group of clients who have been strong pillars to me throughout the years; and finally, those who are no longer with me, but still part of my daily thoughts.
I’m thankful for strong and resilient kids in this world. I’ve heard a lot about our children being robbed of their “real” school year. But looking at it from a different perspective, they've actually gained integrity, independence, discipline, character, adaptability, adversity, and a brand new perspective and appreciation of life. Most importantly, they will have a super crazy story to tell their grandkids one day, which will certainly beat the one about walking to school, uphill both ways, in the snow, barefoot, that my dad used to tell.
Even though I don’t get to see everyone as much as I would like or in the way I would like, I’m thankful for technology. In a way, technology has brought us closer together (and in the same breath has also torn some apart). I’ve gotten to stay in touch with people from all over the country and check in with old friends and family on zoom calls. Just last week, we got to have a zoom call with some friends in Australia, which of course, wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago. Technology has also allowed me to reconnect with people for virtual workouts and cooking classes, which are new, creative ways for me to connect.
I’m thankful for differences in opinions and life. Even through politics, covid and these seemingly tough times, I am thankful for different perspectives and viewpoints because how boring would the world be if we were all the same? I just hope through all of this we can listen to others’ opinions and be both thankful for our differences and want to learn something new in order to grow.
Though Thanksgiving may look quite different for all of us this year, we still have so much to be thankful for in the little things in life. Challenge yourself to change perspectives, be grateful for the present moment and maybe even have a chance to make new traditions. I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving, no matter what it may look like this year!
I’ll leave you with a couple of quotes of thankfulness that are meaningful to me...
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” ~Cicero
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” ~Epictetus
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ~Eckhart Tolle
“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” ~William Faulkner
“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation and goodness” ~ Dalai Lama
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” ~John F. Kennedy
~Thea