"Hidden" Thanks
by: Tori Andrews
During this holiday season, I have tasked myself with reflecting on things that I am thankful for that maybe I wasn’t so happy about to begin with. I’m always grateful for my family, my friends, and my health, which is nothing to minimize or take lightly, but I wanted to challenge myself to think of things that maybe didn’t feel so good at first that ended up working out for my good. Or at least in the process of being so!
I’m working at being grateful for the colder weather. There’s something special about this time of year that forces us to look inward, appreciate our loved ones, reflect on the year, plan for the next, so on and so forth. This can be a beautiful and necessary thing that doesn’t always come so naturally in the nicer weather months. There’s also something quite magical about seeing the wonder in my daughter’s eyes as she watches the first snowfall!
I’m also grateful for my job! But maybe not so much for the reason you may think. Although my field of work is known for compassion fatigue, burnout, and helping work through others’ emotional baggage, I count it an honor to be able to sit with people’s “hard stuff” and help them work towards change.
I’m working at being grateful for the loooong, tiresome days. Not so much for the feeling of being tired itself, but for the ability to build a life that is so full and fulfilling in many ways that there’s rarely a dull moment. Now, don’t get me wrong, I need about a year’s worth of spa days to rejuvenate and catch up on rest, but I know that season of my life will come, so I’m learning to be thankful for the busier days in the present.
Hopefully you all can join me in coming up with a few of those not-so-obvious things to be grateful for this season! Happy Thanksgiving!
Love + hugs,
Tori