Last week was a challenging week around my house. It just seems to go that way sometimes. First something I really had hoped would happen, just didn’t. It still might, but it’s a lesson in patience, which I am admittedly not very good at. Then there are some family challenges right now. Add to that I seem to have gotten some kind of stomach flu toward the end of the week. And then we did our survey here and frankly reading some of the results was sad for me to see how our profession is changing and all of the challenges people are dealing with today.

Tonight as I write this (I generally write in the evenings and try to publish in the mornings), I am reminded that I have three words for my life this year and one of those words is gratitude. Sometimes it just seems to take a smack up the side of the head to remember that. When I do, I am almost always reminded that I haven’t taken time in each day to be grateful for what my life does have. And so today, I want us to talk about gratitude.

Living in a place where you seek things that you are grateful for really is a pretty powerful thing. In times past, I have kept a gratitude journal, writing in it every single day at least five things I was thankful for. Admittedly, some days it was tough to find five things until I would remember wait, I am alive, I have a roof over my head. Sometimes it’s really just that simple.

Let’s face it: Life isn’t fair. Sometimes we just get dealt things that we’d rather not deal with at all. And in those times it’s pretty easy to get down and just have a good old pity party. In the end, though, what does that really gain us? We might feel good at the time because we’re allowing ourselves to feel sorry for all that’s happening to us or for what we don’t have. It really doesn’t change anything, and it can make us pretty tough to be around.

On the other hand, having that attitude of gratitude changes everything. When I am able to stop and remind myself of all the good things in life, I have a different outlook. Life is still unfair, but somehow it doesn’t seem as bad. I find myself noticing a lot more positive and fun things when I’m in that mindset.

Today, here’s my list:

  • I’m grateful that I have an awesome husband. He loves me unconditionally and would do anything in his power to be sure I’m happy. I joked when we met by telling him as long as he always treated me like a princess, we’d get along fine. He’s taken that to heart and really wants nothing more than for me to be happy. I am blessed that he’s in my life.
  • Along the family front, I have a wonderful niece and her family is precious to me. It doesn’t really matter what’s up, she’s there. Her children always bring joy to my day. They are growing up fast and becoming really cool teenagers and older kids. They make me laugh and they remind me that life isn’t meant to be quite so serious.
  • I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had professionally. I have grown from them and I’ve learned some skills that I wouldn’t otherwise have. Because of that, I am able to step outside the box of where I have always been professionally and explore new and exciting ventures. There’s something to be said for that.
  • I’m thankful that I do have some awesome friends. Sometimes our friends disappoint us, and while I’ve had that, even those experiences have allowed me to see who the true friends are and be grateful they are in my life.
  • Last but certainly not least, I am grateful for all of you who stop by to read, who add to conversations, who share of yourself, with your stories and your encouragement for each other. YOU are what makes this an awesome community and I am so glad you’re here!

And now it’s your turn. What is it that you’re grateful for today? Let’s hear it!