Grateful

It is the season of gratitude. The time of year we give thanks for all of the good in our life. Each day in my journal I write down at least one thing/person for whom I am grateful. Most days it is fairly easy. Some days I struggle. Those are usually the darker days that are full of pain and doubt. It is then that all I want to do is curl up in a ball and block out everything. It is then that I want the focus to be on my pain and my doubt - my suffering.

Gratitude does not let us do that. Gratitude forces us beyond ourselves and requires that we look outside of ourselves. Gratitude gives us hope, strength and courage. Listing at least one person for whom we are grateful means that we are not alone. We have a connection. Expressing gratitude for ways others have supported us acknowledges a relationship. Recognizing the importance of others in our lives allows our world to be bigger – better.

Giving thanks for the people in my life and the impact they have had helps me to put things in perspective. Yes, those days when the physical pain is intense, or the amount of loss that I have to endure feels overwhelming, or everything seems to make me angry are real. But they are days, maybe just moments. Those days are not the rest of my life. They are not normally my life.

I have a choice. My choice is to reach for gratitude and to give thanks for all of the kindness, strength, courage and most importantly hope that constantly surrounds me. I hope that during this season of gratitude (and beyond) you will choose the same.

#Gratitude, #LifeLessons, #Choices, #Consequences, #Challenges, #Hope, #SenseOfHope, #TBI, #Resilience, #God, #Empathy