
The wonderful thing about having no expectations of someone is that a space is created - a wide open space - to simply meet the other where they are at. And the Ali I met that week was funny, quiet at times, sharp, reflective and incredibly willing to be raw and honest. I was inspired by her storytelling... and our group discussion at her session created a profound shift in me that I am still processing. I am so grateful to have met Ali, and to have her share her thoughts on gratitude with *the gratitude project: dare to be grateful*! She has given me much to think about...
What are you grateful for?
Ah, gratitude. My old friend.
I’m obviously grateful for the beautiful
basics of my life like my kids, my family, my friends and my home. I’m also
really grateful for my work and for the many opportunities I’ve had to travel
over the years both personally and professionally.
But at the heart of it I’m actually really
grateful for the mess.
Even when I’m knee deep in the messes of
life I’m thankful for the opportunity to simply be alive - to learn and grow
and make-it-through and be a witness to humanity and all the broken beauty it
presents. I’ve been in that place where I was doubled over with sadness and
fear and it’s tough to keep an eye on gratitude in those moments, but it’s
possible. It takes practice and a commitment to coming back to it again and
again even when I fail miserably.
Expressing gratitude is my lifeline. The
process of identifying the things that I’m thankful for in the middle of the
mess gives me so much perspective. It’s a tool I learned from my Mom. She’s
awesome at practicing gratitude in the middle of it all. She writes handwritten
letters, she calls to say thank you, she’s conscious of her blessings, she’s
amazing at forgiveness and she’s so very real about it all and the struggles
she encounters on her own journey.

Here’s to second chances, forgiveness,
compassion, embracing imperfections and gratitude in the mess.
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