Express Gratitude for The Simple Things
It has been a whirlwind of a January.To start the year, I lost my grandfather. One of the most selfless people I have ever known. We were close him and I. My Opa was someone to look up to. He was kind and mentoring to all us grandchildren. He was always the mediator for as long as I can remember. Always encouraging us to be the best we could be, and to be kind to others... always telling us that he loved us. He was the glue that kept our family together, and I was feeling a huge loss. He was now free to join my Oma, who had passed when I was pregnant with my daughter.Just after, I was struck with a serious blast of influenza. What started as fever and chill and exhaustion, turned into sinus pressure and a nasty cough, paired with more exhaustion. On the 10th day of riding out the sickness,I developed strep throat, pretty badly and felt like I was starting on Day 1 of being sick again. I am happy to report that finally on Day 14, though I'm still feeling a bit of pain in my neck and occasionally when I swallow, I am so excited that I am on the mend. I think it will take some time to get back to 100%, and I will give my body grace to do that, but I am glad to be on the other side of this sickness. If you have been struck by it, I recommend REST, rest rest rest!I have never been sick like that, and in some weird way, it has reminded me about gratitude and about being grateful. You should never take your health for granted. I feel like I lost sight of that a little bit. I try to be positive most of the time and acknowledge the things I am blessed to have, but I had fallen off track with that, and this was quite the reminder. Gratitude for the simple things... a comfortable bed to sleep in, the ability to take a hot shower, a home to live in, an income to heat it and buy groceries, a body that moves and can exercise and keeps me alive, a family to comfort and care for me, friends to support and miss me... The list is endless.So I challenge you to spend the next weeks moving forward remembering what you are grateful for. Take the time at the beginning of your day, or at the end of the day before you go to sleep to express to the universe what you are grateful for, or journal it down. I have found that when I am more mindful of expressing gratitude it shifts my whole mindset, and honestly, I feel lighter. Life just feels easier. It doesn't mean I live in a bubble of ignorance, but it does mean I make the choice to appreciate what I have, because nothing in this life is a guarantee.
What are you grateful for?Hugs and Kisses,
