Somehow God has always shown me ways for which I can be very grateful for all that I have been dealt.  When things appeared to be unsettled or off track, I have always found a path that brought me back to a grateful place.  

Feeling fenced in?

What is it that makes us wonder what it would be like to have something different than what we have chosen or the life we have been dealt with?  To want something different in life than what we currently have been experiencing.  A different job, better health, more suitable spouse, more caring children, closer friends, more time for vacation, more money and fewer bills, etc.  

I like to call it my reality check.  The moment that little voice in my head says to me, “Stop worrying about what you don’t have and concentrate on what you do have.”  It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in the “what if,” and often much harder for me to concentrate on all the blessings in my life.  

Illustrating gratitude

When I was growing up I always enjoyed being around people who appeared to be grateful for what they were experiencing.  It seemed as though grateful people had more fun and enjoyed what they were doing more than people who were caught up in the everyday grind.  I saw that some people were able to laugh at the ups and downs of life and move forward, others seemed to get buried in the “why me.”  

At a young age, I saw how many smart, talented, individuals choose to underutilize their talents and overlook what I would consider many things to be grateful for in their lives.  As an adult, I better understand all the outside forces that can move us off-track.  Despite all those outside forces,  I have seen many people overcome the “why me” and learn to celebrate the small steps towards being grateful.  

Finding gratitude

Much has been written on gratitude.  One common theme is the relationship between gratitude and happiness.  I choose gratitude because the alternative for me, stinks.   Focusing on the “why me” is exhausting and creates chaos for everyone around me.

That does not mean that finding gratitude is always easy.  I work at tossing out the negative, exhausting thoughts and focusing on what is most important to me, my faith.  When the clouds and fog are thick, I pray that the focus of my gratitude will become visible to me.  My gratitude has always been driven by my faith.  The key for me has been allowing my faith to guide my journey.     

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