09/10/2020
It’s the Friday kick-off to my most soul-filling holiday, Thanksgiving. 🍂
My mom and dad instilled in me the regular practice of gratitude throughout my entire life.
My dad acknowledged how privileged we were to feel safe in our home, to have shelter, to never worry about food on the table. He constantly modelled the importance of family and the value of true friendship.
My mom would thank our little bodies for allowing us to walk, talk, laugh and live. “Thank you, strong legs, for getting me out of bed today!”
On the tougher days, I ground myself by focussing on something small, even if it’s the joy of having a cozy bed to tuck myself into each night. Each one of us has our own measure for what it is we are grateful. It’s important that we don’t compare our gratitude with others.
I am not a big proponent of “finding the positive” in everything, or to “just be positive”. I find that to be unrealistic and inauthentic to yourself, depending on the situation, as well as it can lead us to avoid the truth of our feelings and experiences. It’s important to acknowledge and experience feelings of grief, loss, frustration - even if it’s for something that appears insignificant. When I step into and observe my true feelings, it allows me to later feel profound gratitude for all that I feel and endure.
Often times, it’s the contrast of hardship that allows us to step fully into gratitude for this moment.
Every day I am grateful, but not every moment is positive. I think that’s a very important distinction.
For me, Thanksgiving is a time of honest reflection for all that we are grateful. I hope you have time to yourself at some point this weekend to take a moment and look inwards to feel gratitude for wherever you are at. 🧡
