Gratitude

For what am I grateful? I can honestly say everything because it all has brought me to where I am today and each event that occurs adds to my journey.

Has it all been easy or fun or exciting or uplifting? No, but it has informed, taught, and expanded my world and I believe that we are all here to learn and grow.

My life, when viewed from outside, has been pretty easy and I would have to say when viewed from my point of reference it has been extraordinarily lucky. The main obstacle in my way has been me and how I have chosen to interpret events and challenges. Fortunately, I decided long ago that it was my job to understand me better and in so doing I have seen that interpreting things from my point of view is not always the best vantage point. Looking out at the world and finding it not in alignment is not someone else’s fault. It is me judging the experience through my filters and values and perceptions.

To understand my point, one only has to look to family to see how everyone has their opinions, feelings and stories. If you have siblings simply sit with how you differ in your take on growing up. Were you the favorite or someone else? Was your mother difficult or fun or detached or punitive? How about your siblings’ take on your mother? Do the same exercise with your father. Listen to how your siblings mirror back their perception of you. Does it make sense? Can you own any of their projections?

Most of us are simply trying to get through each day. Some of us are trying to understand ourselves and how we are put together. Others are still hoping that something outside of themselves will change and THEN everything in their world will be okay. Nothing in the past can be altered except your analysis of it and yet the majority of folks keep thinking that “if only…..”, then things would have been better, perfect or just different. There is room for regret, but only as it serves to be a lesson for the current situation. I do not include the future in that statement because to quote a favorite card of mine….”When you live too far in the past or too far in the future, you miss the present.” 

Each day is a gift that we get to unwrap and if we can open the present with an attitude of gratitude, we have a better chance of understanding why it has been given to us. The only gift exchange is in front of us and the only person in charge of facilitating that transaction is the recipient.  You might as well enjoy yourself. So don’t get all wrapped up in it and as with all gifts….send a thank you note as soon as you can.

Thanks for reading.