Today is Thanksgiving, a time where we come together with friends and family to celebrate all of the people and things we are grateful for. It is a time where all of the unresolved family drama is forced to resolve for one day. But the largest thing I take out of Thanksgiving is honoring what I have and sharing my gratitude with others.
Joy comes out in moments- ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary. Rather than accepting what we have and appreciating it, we are always looking for something bigger and better.
Be grateful for what you have. Don’t take what you have for granted- celebrate it. Don’t apologize for what you have. Be grateful for it and share your gratitude with others. Are your parents healthy? Be thrilled. Let them know how much they mean to you. When you honor what you have, you’re honoring what others have lost.
Don’t squander joy. Yes, softening into joy is uncomfortable. Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s vulnerable. But every time we allow ourselves to lean into joy and give in to those moments, we build resilience and we cultivate hope. The joy becomes part of who we are, and when bad things happen–and they do happen–we are stronger.
I encourage you today to text someone or say out loud “I’m feeling vulnerable and I’m so grateful for_______.” Expressing gratitude can feel overwhelming and vulnerable; it feels like asking for help. But it is the only way we are able to build connections and I encourage you to spend some time thinking about that today.
Luv, Liv