Return to Gratitude
From 1999-2002, my wife and I lived in Abilene, Texas. We met some of the best friends we’ve ever had while we were in graduate school there. But as I recall, we received 13, 18 and 21 inches of rain in those three years. That’s extremely dry. When the parched earth finally met with rain after a month or more of scorching summer heat, the whole neighborhood celebrated with renewed appreciation for rain.
I have never taken rain for granted ever again. My wife and I agreed that we would never complain about the rain again.
This gratitude set me on a course to create a short list of things to never take for granted. You might consider developing your own short list of 3-10 things. Most likely, these may represent goals that eluded your grasp for years. Or, like the rain, you may have some unexpected gratitudes. You might think of items such as:
- Work that is in alignment with your values.
- Owning your own home.
- Ample cash flow and savings.
- Friends.
- Health, or at least a path forward to manage health challenges.
These are the easy ones, but you may very well find that a trip to Home Depot or the grocery store stirs in you a specific reason to be thankful. Your list will be as unique as you are.
Over the course of 17 years of my wife’s Dermatomyositis experience, we have discovered some things we would have never otherwise been grateful for:
- Being able to pick up your toddlers.
- Infusion nurses who get you on the first stick.
- Insurance that covers ridiculously expensive treatments.
Return to gratitude. Sit with these thoughts for a while. What will you decide to never take for granted?
Worth Repeating
This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.
-Maya Angelou
