Thanksgiving Reflections: An Attitude of Gratitude

Scenes from my life for which I am grateful

The clearest moments are born in the darkest hours.  That all I got.

No, it's not all.  As I sit lay here in a swanky hotel bed in downtown Chicago I reflect on why and how I arrived at this moment. I escaped to breathe...and the fact that my husband was coming here for a business trip wasn't so bad either.   Looking back over the past 7 months I could heap a whole lotta complaining about who said what at my job and how things didn't go my way or as planned.  In hindsight I amassed large amounts of negative mental energy about my abilities as a new leader, community builder, and the intentions and shortcomings of others.  I spent so much time trying to please my bosses and prove myself that I lost sight of the real me: mother, wife, sister, friend, writer, foodie, movie-lover, dancer, fashionista, and all-around pure fu**ing  badass.  The work of community building stopped being innovatively fun and became, well work.  I lost weight.  I lost sleep.  I became crabby.  I blamed others.  I prayed.  I cried.  I almost forgot who I was, what God promised me, and the trials that He previously brought me through.  I needed a break and so I took it. 

And here I am.  I suppose the purpose of this blog is to encourage the reader to take some time to stop and smell the roses once in a while.  For every negative experience that you endure I promise that there are at least 2 positive ones that you can be grateful for.  Don't believe me?  Take a deep breath.  There's someone right now who is using a respirator to do this for them.  Wave your hands.  There's a war veteran somewhere who has lost their limbs.  If that last example was too dramatic for you, consider the device you are using to read this blog.  I think you get the point. 

As outlined in the previous blog there is a purpose for experience in which we endure.  You may be at the end of your rope about things that don't seem to get better but rather worse.  Consider then your attitude and the lens in which you view this experience.  Set yourself up to not only believe but act on the FACT  that this too shall pass and learn the lesson- whatever it might be- and GROW.  Commit yourself to growth.  God allows things to happen in our lives to show us what we are really made of.  If you don't like something and have the ability to change it then do so.  The Creator God promised to give us the desires of our hearts and he will align people in your path to set you up for that next blessing.  You just have to go out and look for it and walk confidently in the path that HE allowed. 

With that, I am now on my way out to brave the cold weather and tour the beautiful Windy City at my own pace. I am thankful for a family who is taking care of my 2 year old so that my husband and I catch up on some "us time".  I am thankful for the means to travel.  I am thankful for this revelation.  I am thankful for this comfy bed.  I am thankful, thankful, thankful.