Thank you Frailty. Thank you Consequence
"Thank you disillusionment. Thank you frailty. Thank you consequence. Thank you thank you silence." Alanis Morissette
It is currently Thanksgiving Monday, here, in Canada. A day where, if following long-standing Canadian Thanksgiving tradition's of giving thanks for the bountiful harvest, one celebrates by feasting on its gifts. There are many different traditions associated with our Thanksgiving, here in Canada but the one that I both, practice and appreciate the most is that of giving thanks for all that you have. Showing and practicing gratitude for your life and it's bounties; and being grateful for the people, places and things that make up your life. I give thanks everyday, normally anyway; by saying thank you and telling people in my life that I appreciate them, and by being grateful for what I have and seeing myself as lucky for having what I do have instead of wishing for more, or being ungrateful, in general. That said, I still like Thanksgiving as a time to celebrate these things; my life and its 'bountiful harvests'. In this, Thanksgiving spirit, I will share with you, my thoughts on what I am thankful for.
First and foremost, as always, I am thankful for my children. Three beautiful human beings who have taught me true and unconditional love; taught me to see through their eyes and opened mine in doing so. I'm thankful that they are nurturing, strong and compassionate souls. I am thankful that I have had the privilege of participating in the lives and growth of these three incredible people and, am thankful that they are my three best friends. In fact, I am thankful for all of my babies; both real and fur-covered ones.
I am thankful for the relationships in my life that have brought me joy, and the people that I have had the pleasure of loving, and being loved by. I am eternally grateful for a recent experience; of having had the opportunity to see what life within a partnership would be like for me, again. I am grateful for having met and had the chance to be with this person, in this capacity and, appreciate the time that we have had together. I am grateful for what this experience has taught me and for the feelings that it has illicited. Regardless of what happens from here; where life takes us and what we become (friends or partners, alike), I will always cherish the time we spent, the memories we made and the love we both felt, by being with one another in this manner.
I am thankful for the hardship and difficulties of my past, and for hardship and adversity, overall. I am thankful for what it has taught me, and the strength, fortitude and tenacity such hardship has given me. For every moment of everyday of it has made me who I am now and taught me some incredible - albeit, difficult lessons. I would not be who or where I am now, had I not experienced these things.
I am thankful for all of those of whom I have known and loved throughout my lifetime, thus far. Those I have lost and those who are still a part of my life. Thankful for having been loved by them, of having learned from them and for all that they have brought to my life. And, thankful for having been allowed to be a part of theirs. I am thankful for the friends I have made and the partners that I have had. Thankful for those who stayed and for those who left.
I hold deep gratitude for those who stayed, especially throughout trying times in my life, and times when I would have understood were they to have gone. For the ways in which they enriched my life and the life of my children while they were a part of it all.
I appreciate those who left; those who were there for a reason or a season, as opposed to for a lifetime, as they took part in my growth by simply leaving when it was time to do so. Some taught me patience and understanding, others taught me lessons that brought strength and tenacity I didn't know I had. All made me more resilient.
I am thankful that I can; after so much adversity, so many challenges, losses and, so much change still find beauty in the most simplistic aspects of life. That I can find peace and happiness in a song, in a thunderstorm, in a long drive, in an interaction with a friend or stranger. That I can appreciate the simplest things like, a cup of tea in my porch or a glass of wine with a friend. A good book or a visit with family. I'm thankful that these things are enough to rejuvenate and inspire me and that I can find beauty and happiness in the most unsuspecting places.
I am thankful for all that I have experienced; negative or positive, gain or loss. For the opportunities that have been presented to me, and that I took them as such. Thankful for my former careers, my education and for what I've learned from others. I am thankful for my former self, former relationships and former careers and for what they all taught me. They've all made me a better, stronger and more resilient version of myself and have made me better appreciate what I have.
I am thankful for the roof over my head, the food in my stomach and the clothing on my back. I am grateful and I realize that there are so many who cannot say the same and who are not as fortunate as I. I am thankful for the things I have that others might consider luxuries; even electricity, running water and warm clothing are luxuries to some. I hope I always remember that and can always be grateful for where I live and that these are not considered luxuries here. I am thankful that I was born into a country where we are free to express what we are thankful for and that any race, gender or ethnicity can do the same in their own way; by using their own language, and practicing their own traditions, without fear of persecution.
I am grateful that I can be this grateful. I am thankful that I have what I have and can appreciate it. I know that I have a life worthy of enormous gratitude because I am grateful for what I have, in the first place. I understand that there are others who are not as fortunate; others who would appreciate what I have, and others who are envious of what I have. I am grateful that I can recognize this, share what I have with others and appreciate these things, myself.
I will always be grateful for what I have, as I know what it is like to go without. Hopefully, you can also, always be grateful for what you have. Remember, there is always someone else wishing they had what you had; a life like yours, home like yours, hair, body, car, kids, career, education, talent, creativity, opportunity.
When you’re not feeling grateful, read this again.