In honor of Thanksgiving this week, Kendall and I decided that we would each write a post on gratitude. What are we thankful for in this season? We ask this while fully understanding that 2020 has been an abnormally hard year for many.
“It’s impossible to feel sad or have any negative feeling when you’re grateful. If you’re in the midst of a difficult situation, look for something to be grateful for.” – Rhonda Byrne
I am naturally an optimistic and happy person. But I’d be lying if I told you that I haven’t had a lot of tough moments and seasons throughout my life. Reminding myself what I am thankful for has been something I have done for years and at the beginning of quarantine back in March 2020 I wrote a list of what I was grateful for. Here is a small sampling of that list:
– Facetime dates with friends
– The (short) morning commute from my bedroom to the office
– Bike rides through an empty campground
– Card games outside with neighbors
– Experimenting with vegan recipes
– Produce box deliveries on Wednesdays
– Finding out how it feels to cancel all my plans and feel surprisingly content with that
Looking back at that list, I can’t help but smile because during that time it was hard to find the good on a daily basis. I am proud of myself for making this list and slowing down long enough to be grateful for these things while also re-planning our wedding, learning how to work from home, and struggling with all of the changes. Summer then brought a loosening of restrictions and more outdoor activities which relieved some stress. But now, here in Washington state, we are in quarantine 2.0 and it feels like a really good time to write out another gratitude list. Here is what I am currently grateful for:
– Connecting with friends on Marco Polo (app)
– Almost fully healed sprained ankle
– New office space in the dining room (I love it actually)
– Borrowing the neighbor dog and taking her for a walk
– Decorating for the holidays
– The smell of slow cooker meals, homemade bread, and seasonal treats
– Family Board games
– My job and thoughtful coworkers
– Our family’s health (I am so grateful we are all healthy)
– The Salty Exchange, a creative outlet with a fantastic friend
Those are just a few of the MANY things I am grateful for. I often just sit at my desk daydreaming and feeling grateful for specific people like my husband, my stepchildren, my parents, my brothers’ families, and my friends. If there is ever a time to stop and reflect on what you are thankful for, it is now. Happy Thanksgiving, no matter how different the holidays look this year… I guarantee we all have things to be thankful for.
The Salty Exchange 