Gratitude, it seems to be the theme around me for the past
couple of weeks. Everything from the
conversations I’ve had, to the messages at church, to the reminders in kung fu
and even the commercials on TV, they all seem to be reminding me that I have a
never ending list of things in my life to be grateful for. Like many, I have had a tough year in a more
than a few respects. I am ashamed to say
that I have had more than a few moments struggling with finding anything to be
grateful for. I have got so caught up in
and focused on what was going wrong that I missed what was going right. I think I have “painted a broad brush of
thanksgiving that leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my
life.” This year one of my goals was to
keep up with a gratitude journal. I
started off fairly strong but as the year continued and more challenging things
came up in life I found myself struggling to find anything to write. This is absolutely absurd! My life is so full of wonderful people,
things and experiences, how could I not find even a simple little sentence or
even one word of something I have to be grateful for?
This past week, after more than a little reflection, I have
discovered that I have been missing true gratitude because I have been looking
too broad. I haven’t been looking at the
small specific details, the meaningful words and moments that build true
gratitude. I have lazily and
thoughtlessly named off words that encompasses so much more if I break it down
and truly focus on the pieces. A couple of nights ago I went out for a walk
(very bundled up and yes it was cold). I
walked very slowly; anyone who knows me or has ever walked with me will
understand that this is a huge challenge for me. Slowing down and truly focusing on the moment
I felt the cold biting air on what skin was exposed making me aware I’m
alive. Looking up I could see thousands
of stars lighting up the dark sky. I
could see and feel the snowflakes falling on my face. I could hear true peace and quiet with only
the crunching of snow under my boots. I
could smell the wood burning from fireplaces in the neighborhood. Without
making the conscious decision to slow down and truly look at and pick apart the
pieces of the night, I would have missed one of the best night walks ever.
Meet each day with a grateful heart. Look beyond the big picture and see and
appreciate the small details and pieces that make up all we have to be grateful
for.
Alana Regier
http://alanaregier.blogspot.ca
