Today I paused to reflect on my many blessings and found myself giving thanks for a pretty amazing life. I know that I’m not alone in this. Amid the festivities and traditions of the American Thanksgiving holiday, there were many expressions of gratitude. The past year has been tough for all of us. I think it has given us all a new appreciation of the fragility, preciousness, and simplicity of life itself. Most if not all of us have lost loved ones to Covid-19. Some are praying at this very moment for loved ones who are struggling to breathe. The most important life lesson we should learn is to treasure every moment.
What are you most grateful for? I am most grateful for life, my family, and my loved ones. Although my family and I do not live within earshot of each other, we can be instantly connected. We connect via phone, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom! Imagine how a pandemic of this magnitude would have alienated us from each other without technology! I’ve come to the realization that we take a lot of our blessings for granted. Take for instance the technology that connects us across continents.
What are you taking for granted?
Reflecting on this question is one of the most effective ways of practicing gratitude. Thankfully I have not experienced the effects of Covid-19, I cannot imagine how horrifying it is, but I am positive that it brings a new awareness and appreciation for the simple act of breathing. We all breathe without giving much thought to it, we take each breath for granted. Hopefully, the ability to breathe unassisted is one of the things you and I will no longer take for granted! It is something I am constantly giving thanks for each day.
What do you give thanks for each day? I have a list of things I give thanks for. I should confess that I do not actually write lists, I make mental lists that work just as well! Number one on my gratitude list is the ability to breathe (life) and number two is quality of life. I have learned that being alive is one thing but the quality of life is the ultimate qualifier! What if you are alive but dependent on others to function? Life and quality of life are my top two. What are your top two?
Gratitude lists
Your top two will depend on several variables including; your culture, most recent experiences, your past experiences, your current situation, and the list can go on! Everyone’s gratitude list is different. Having a gratitude list is one of the keys to a happier life. If you do not make a list of all the blessings you are most grateful for then you are missing out on the sense of fulfillment this simple act results in. In fact, I plan to keep a gratitude journal like A Year of Gratitude – Daily Moments of Reflection by Joree Rose MA LMFT.
Technology puts a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips including this great resource about practicing gratitude. I believe knowledge should be shared, and technology allows us to do that effectively. This is only one of the reasons technology is on my gratitude list!
Giving thanks for the people in your life
Relationships are on my gratitude list because human interaction is essential for our survival. In the past, I walked away from relationships and people for a variety of reasons. If a romantic relationship was not ideal, I walked away. If a relationship with a family member goes south because of a disagreement or wrongdoing, I avoided the person. Similarly, in the case of relationships with friends or co-workers; I avoided spending time with them if they demonstrated behavior that I disapproved of or found baffling. Now I am cognizant of the fact that a relationship is as simple as co-existing peacefully!
If we examine ourselves objectively, we will find character faults and personality traits that are far from ideal! Only a narcissistic person would think they lack imperfection! What gives us the right to discard people because they do not measure up to our ideals? I am not the perfect romantic partner, family member, friend, or co-worker, yet people value their relationships with me. How could I not give thanks for those people? I am learning that each relationship is unique, and each has a different degree of complexity – perhaps there is no ideal relationship? The Secret Language of Relationships is on my reading list, maybe it will help me gain more insight on the ticklish subject of relationships.
I hope that this inspires you to practice gratitude every day. Appreciate every moment and everyone in your life.
