Simple Things I am Grateful For

On the eve of Thanksgiving as I scroll through Facebook and other social media sites, I see various posts about being thankful. I love reading how this time of year allows people to sit back and reflect. I know we should all practice gratitude each day, and I certainly do my best to do it. However, we are all human and if we need a prompt or a reminder to sit back and quiet our minds, then so be it.

I, like many others feel very grateful. I am grateful for the common things such as family, friends, my home, my health and my career. There are certain people and things in my life that stir feelings of gratitude and joy- and sometimes feelings of something deeper and more profound- like love, connection, happy memories, self confidence, inner peace and comfort. As I sit with these feelings, however, I realize it is not really about the “things” anymore, and more about those people in your life.

I have had a lot of opportunities over the last few years to take risks, to put myself in a position of vulnerability and to let go of attempting to control the outcome. It is this, in which I am most grateful for on this very day. I am grateful for those people who have allowed me to come full circle. I am grateful for those who have allowed me to release my fears and take my walls down and I am even grateful for those people who have reminded me the need for walls in certain situations. I am truly grateful for all of the hurdles, hard times and disappointments, because truly without them, I probably would not be able to distinguish from what I need and what I want; what I want to do and what I will never do. I am a believer in “the plan….” And, this I have struggled over the years to admit, is not MY plan. It is the “plan” that has been laid out for each and every one of us. There is a plan designated for us and it is not magic, or by chance, or even “hocus pocus signs.” It is what was meant for us to be able to either move on, let go, or re-assess.” When I did not have a strong foundation and belief in the “plan” I was not open to see the opportunities set forth in front of me. However, as I became more firm in my beliefs that opportunities do not happen by chance, I realized that I can have more confidence in myself and in others. Believing that there is a plan for each of us, allows me to speak more freely, more openly, and with much more vulnerability than ever imagined. I trust that speaking from the heart and speaking in the truth can never do me wrong. If I am open to honesty, whether it is what I want to hear or not, I am allowing myself to be open and be free; while allowing others in my life to do the same.

The journey of self love, growth and gratitude is ever-changing and is hard at times. It is not over for me, yet it is evolving each and everyday. I am grateful for those people who support this journey and who allow me to dream, those who allow me to pick things a part section by section and for those who despite may not always agree with me, are there to either celebrate with me, or pick me up. I tell my children, my clients and even friends, that if you have one person, just one person in your life who encourages you, supports you, and is there unconditionally, then you are truly blessed. I am so grateful, because I have a few of these people.

Happy Thanksgiving to All! Do what makes you smile- do what makes your heart happy. I am.