Gratitude. Amazing Grace.
What an amazing year this has been, mostly because of the connectedness I share with my family. An amazing grace. This past Thanksgiving I was in Atlanta and celebrated the beginning of the holiday season with 17 family members. Thirteen of us shared Thanksgiving dinner and 4 more joined us for lunch on Saturday. What a blessing to be with family. An even greater blessing is that I wanted to be there and loved EVERY moment of the experience.
Like so many folks, I spent much of my early years hating my family; my mother in particular. It’s ironic, as I think back on it, how I complained incessantly, about my family, to anyone who listened to me. In my eyes, they could do no right, yet I was the alcoholic black sheep of the family; the one who created havoc at every opportunity. It’s amazing how skewed our vision becomes when we are pointing the finger outward.
Grateful. Gratitude.
I have so many gifts to be thankful for, and when my heart and mind are open, I get to truly appreciate the blessings. At the top of that exhaustive list is my family. I have created supportive and loving community wherever I lay my hat, but my blood family is key to my survival. How lucky I am to still have a mother who is living and present. How fortunate I am that I have elderly uncles and aunts who have seen way more than I. I grateful I am to have cousins like me, in our sixties, with whom I share a common bond. How blessed I am to be in relationship with my nieces and nephew.
Grateful. Gratitude.
As we start the Holiday season, I think about all that I have to be grateful for:
- My mother
- My relationship with my mother
- The fact that I truly love my mom
- That I am financially able to do things with, and for her
- A wonderful husband who lets me be ME
- Enough to eat
- Many comfortable beds to sleep in
- The ability to live the life I love
- Friends that matter
- A clean and sober life
- My beautiful animals
- That I love and value animals
- My education
- That I am 61, quickly approaching 62—and loving it!
- That, and so much more…
What are you grateful for today? Think back over your life to where you were 20-, 10-, 5-, 1-year ago. How has your life changed? Is it better? Are you worse off? Even if it feels as if it has changed for the worst, are you able to manage it? Despite the struggle, do you have enough? Do you have hope?
On this day I thank God for my many gifts, and NOT the least of them is my mom. Join the conversation on my Esteemable Acts Fan Page and let me know what you are grateful for.
Filed Under: Esteemable Acts Blog, Family, family values, Friendship, God, How to build self esteem, How to show love, improve self esteem, Life, Love one another, Personal Development, personal growth
