Recently, I have fallen victim to the whirlwind of responsibilities and life in general. It is so easy to become overwhelmed by the things that feel like they are taking over your life, but are really just occurring in the background as you live your normal life. When this happens, it seems almost insignificant and like a waste of time to step back and reflect on the good things.
After a chaotic week, I was reminded of this in a yoga class I took this morning. The theme of the class, the teacher announced at the beginning, was gratitude. This obviously struck a chord with me, as the concept of gratitude is something I try to dedicate a lot of my time and energy to. I felt like I had been lacking in this, as can happen as life happens, and I decided to really lean back into that throughout the class and leading up to Thanksgiving.
This holiday revolves around the concept of giving back and expressing thankfulness to all that life has to offer us. Sometimes, this is not the easiest thing to do, especially when you are feeling as though you are facing more adversity than you are receiving support. Something that the yoga teacher of my class today said that resonated with me was to learn to have gratitude for the things that are in progress, that are in the works. And then try to have gratitude for the things that challenge you.
I think this is a very relevant and helpful mindset going into this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not the same for everyone – it could be your favorite holiday, it could be your most dreaded. But there is an opportunity to shift your mindset in the lessons it attempts to bring to consciousness. There is something positive to come out of every experience you have and everything you go through, whether that is personal growth or an opportunity to help someone else.
So yes, this Thanksgiving I’m grateful for family, sweet potatoes with marshmallows and football in the yard with my cousins. I’m grateful for my dog, my friends, my education and the opportunities I’ve had. I’m grateful for the ups and downs, the assignments I didn’t do well on, the plans that didn’t go how I thought they would, and the way I responded to those experiences.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Grateful for all of you.