Gratitude – Not Always Easy, But Essential

I wrote this blog in 2015 and it’s still as relevant as it was back then. I’ve added a few updates, but the sentiment is the same.

When I think about the past year, there have been some amazing highs and some painful lows. And isn’t that the way life is?

Given that we never know what’s around the corner – whether it’s a wonderful surprise or an upsetting one, it’s so important to appreciate what we have, right now.

I’m grateful for many things, and even though there have been hard times and there likely will be hard times in the future as well, I can say that in this moment, I’m happy.

I’m grateful for the people in my life: my wonderful family and friends who love me unconditionally and whom I cherish; I’m grateful that I get to do work that’s enriching to me and helpful to others; I’m grateful to live in a place that allows me the opportunities to be my authentic self and to enjoy my life to the fullest.

Gratitude is most meaningful when we accept that life isn’t always easy and doesn’t always go the way we want it to. Gratitude reminds us that even when times are hard, there are many good things to focus on.

We can appreciate the positives in our life even when there are some big negatives, and this appreciation keeps things in perspective and helps us feel less overwhelmed by our challenges.

It’s a good idea, especially when we’re facing difficulties, to reflect on the things we’re grateful for. This gratitude will contribute to our resilience and will help us weather any storm.

It’s easy to complain about all the things that aren’t going the way we want, but what we need to do is appreciate all the things that are going well, and all the problems we’ve avoided.

Recently, I slipped on a shiny floor and fell on my outstretched hand. It was my right hand and that’s the one I use, of course. I got a bad wrist sprain and I’m wearing a brace and going for Physiotherapy, but it could have been a lot worse.

I make my living in large part by writing and if I had broken my wrist, I couldn’t have worked for several weeks. No work equals no income, so I’m extremely grateful that I didn’t have a more serious injury.

Some people might be inclined to complain about the pain or inconvenience of a sprained wrist, but I’m just so relieved that it wasn’t a fracture. Sometimes, the thing we’re grateful for is the fact that it could have been a lot worse, and wasn’t.

Whatever inspires you to be grateful this holiday season, take a moment to give thanks. We’re great at identifying all the things that bother us but it actually makes us happier when we take a minute to appreciate all the things that are good in our lives.

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