To be honest, I struggled with what to write for this month’s blog post. As the year comes to an end, I have been reflecting on the past twelve months and I am not even sure where to begin. So much as happened – from COVID, to an election, protests and natural disasters across the nation. Now the frenzy of the holidays are upon us and it looks and feels so different this year. Still, to retain some semblance of normalcy, I’ve been running around trying to get all our holiday cards and gifts in the mail on time and busy fulfilling orders for ThinkTwyce, so I hadn’t taken a second to stop and just slow my mind down.
Then, as I was writing more of my “to-dos” in my day planner I was reminded of something significant. At the bottom of each page of my planner is a blank space with the single word “Gratitude” as a title. It is meant to encourage the owner of the planner to write something they are grateful for each day. When I took a moment to glance back through the days of the year and the previous thoughts of gratitude I had scribbled in the designated spaces, I immediately felt humbled.
To be honest, some days that space was left blank. Other days the space was filled.
Some of the things were practical in nature—
“Finding a small, non-crowded post office” (December 8th)
Some were nourishing for my brain—
“Learning new things” (February 25th)
"Creative ideas" (April 21st)
Some were items of comfort—
“Scented candles and homemade pasta sauce” (November 2nd)
“Quiet” (September 9th)
“Warm, hearty soup on a rainy day” (August 31st)
Some were uplifting for my soul—
“Running in the rain” (September 7th)
“Sunlight through the window” (June 25th)
"Waking up to kittens" (September 11th)
And some left me speechless—
“The bravery of health care workers in the face of COVID-19” (March 10th)
It goes without saying that this year has been tough for everyone. Perhaps we’ve been affected in different ways, but we’ve all been affected. It may be challenging in this moment to think of something you are grateful for this year. Given all the personal trials this year, I too sometimes found it challenging to feel grateful at times. Then, with what was intended to be a book of lists, musts, agendas, obligations, and responsibilities, I was given the gift of remembering that in between the “to-dos” are the little daily moments that are the threads of life; the moments that weave our story, our outlook. Yes, we all have things we have to do. We all have struggles, pain and obstacles in our lives. I am not undermining these experiences that are very real and raw. Yet, it’s the seemingly minor occurrences in between the errands and chores, the urgent necessities of life, that when focused on, become the most important thing because they remind us of what’s truly important.
You may have had to stay inside a lot more than you wanted to this year. Your job may have been impacted. You may be worrying about how you’re going to pay rent. You may have lost a loved one.
In between all of the unforgiving realities of this year, I leave you with one word and a blank space.
Gratitude…
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