Choosing Gratitude

Gratitude- ‘tis the season of Thanksgiving. But sometimes the season of life versus nature’s and the calendar’s season is in direct contrast. Life may be difficult: career crossroads, relationship turmoil, financial hardships, unwanted health diagnosis, parenting issues…and the list could be quite extensive. So, how do you still find a grateful heart in the midst of the grief and trouble? Our minds are an amazing tool that allow us to always have and make a choice. It may sound like a cliché, but we can always choose joy and gratitude. Finding the beauty in the everyday is a choice-and can be a beautiful choice.

Nature offers abundant beauty this time of year which often warms the heart. Beautiful color, bright sunrises and sunsets, and a cool crisp chill in the air. Children bring a joy and pause for the present…being in the moment rather than forecasting the future and the “what if’s”. Enjoying every bite of that delicious pumpkin pie…even the whipped cream on top. Being with friends and family that allow us to focus on the good (maybe even laugh a bit) and forget our troubles, even if momentarily. Reading a good book and getting lost in the words and pages. All ways to enjoy the moment rather than focusing on the troubles at hand.

Trouble doesn’t last always- but life may look permanently different and may never be the same. There can still be beauty in the change. A grateful heart allows that beauty to sink in, truly warming our spirit and lives. The season of life may make nature’s season difficult to understand or relate to, but we have a choice…always! Choose thanksgiving and more gratitude will come into your life. Give to receive! Be thankful in all and life will give beauty back to you!

Note: this guest post is by Amy Morgan-Henry. Amy is a stay at home mom to her six (6) year old son, a published author, and the creator of Pink Peppermint (an advocacy focus group for Metastatic Breast Cancer)

She also happens to be my niece. I babysat for her when she was so wee and she would follow me around asking me often — ‘What-a gonna do Greama? What-a gonna do?’ Well, when I was in Paris I decided one thing I was gonna do was ask 
Amy to write a post for me on the subject of gratitude.

It would be remiss of me if I did not mention that she has been living with cancer for 2.5 years. She amazes me in her tenacity to show up every moment for Isaiah, her 6-year-old son. So you might wanna go back and reread what she has written here—it carries more weight when you realize that she knows of whence she speaks.

P.S. Thanks Amy, for showing us all how much it matters to show up—that smile you flash says so much. You are still as cute as you were when you followed me around as a toddler and still just as doggone curious! Thanks for always asking the tough questions while simultaneously showing me the answer—to just be present and have mountains of gratitude.

My husband, Ron and my friend, Paulette of Provence—are we not so blessed by the precious people in our lives?