“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
I love the holiday season. I love Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I look forward to them all. I love the giving of treats & presents, spending time with family, and enjoying good food. Last year I felt frustrated during each of these holidays; each was marred by my pain. I remember thinking maybe next year my pain will be gone in a storybook way. Well, it’s a year later, and my pain isn’t gone. Not only was my pain still there, but the entire household suffered from a cold and my son had a migraine that wouldn’t go away. But our lack of physical health didn’t stop us from having a great Thanksgiving. It was just wonderful to be together, talking, playing games, laughing, and even visiting the science museum and Hennepin’s train museum.
Often we focus on the glaring thing we wish was better in our lives, rather than turning the lens on all we have to be grateful for. I do face another holiday season of great physical challenge. It’s important that my physical challenge does not become my focus, that I don’t lose sight of what I have to be grateful for. Focusing on that which we are grateful for helps broaden our lives and makes our world much larger. Bitterness and disappointment can make lives seem pinpoint small. Both my boys are going to be home this holiday season and for that I am grateful - and my world expands. My happiness grows.
What we focus on grows stronger. According to livescience.com, our neurons continue to grow and change even as we age. They change based on our focus. If we want more gratitude we should focus on gratitude. If we want more kindness in our life we should focus on kindness.
I’m focusing on gratitude. I find gratitude in my challenges, keep a gratitude journal, practice mindfulness, spend time with loved ones, express gratitude and show respect to others.
This Thanksgiving season I’ve enjoyed expressing gratitude to those I care about in small ways and I feel lucky to be spending the holiday with loved ones. I’m mindful of my blessings!