Practicing Gratitude
Written by Kendall Bergman
I got sick in November after visiting my sister in Houston. We went to a really big Christmas market and there were people here, there and everywhere. We had a great time…walking the aisles, looking at all of the things and people there were to look at…and believe me, there was A LOT to look at. Inevitably, some germs found me.
I stayed in Houston for a few days and felt great. About 4 days after returning home, I had a sore throat, ran fever and had no energy. Yay!
I was down for the count for a good 4-5 weeks. I never tested positive for COVID, but because the thing lingered so long a couple of friends have suggested it’s possible that coronavirus was the cause. Who knows…I just know I was a snotty, coughing mess.
You might be wondering what all this has to do with gratitude. In my experience, it has everything to do with gratitude. In my experience there is always a choice to practice gratitude or not. I’m not talking about a Pollyanna attitude that ignores the hurt, sorrow and loss we all experience. I’m not suggesting you simply pretend everything is fine and dandy when it’s not or that gratitude is a cure for heartache and anger.
I am suggesting a couple of things.
There is truly a season for every purpose under heaven.
Identifying one thing to be grateful for when hardships happen can shift energy, perspective and mindset.
I started feeling a little better the week of Thanksgiving and traveled to New Braunfels to spend time with family. I came home a few days later and…of course…had a setback. Not only was my chest congested but then the cough got worse. Fun, right?
I tried to keep moving at my normal pace…went to workout a couple of times, attended a couple of Christmas parties. You know how it goes. I kept thinking “just push through.” I was frustrated and sad. I was trying desperately to will myself back to good health. In case you’re wondering, it didn’t work.
The week before Christmas I was trying to talk to my sister on the phone, but couldn’t hold a conversation…I kept coughing. My sister kindly and courageously asked me to simply stop…and rest…and provide my body the time and space and care it needed to heal completely.
She offered me permission to try another way. To give up, put on my comfy clothes, make some tea and crawl into the couch. It was me, the remote control and mind-numbing television. After about 5 days I realized the cough had lessened, my energy was starting to return and my spirits were lifting.
Today it’s been around 7 weeks since I first started feeling poorly. I am profoundly grateful. I am grateful for my sister’s honesty. I am grateful I listened to my sister. I am grateful for being sick because it has reminded me how good I feel when I’m healthy. I am grateful for my loving friends and family. I’m grateful for a cozy home. I’m grateful for my dogs.
I believe gratitude is a practice. It’s not something to be mastered…it’s an exercise and reminder that even when you’re down in the dumps there is always something to be thankful for.
Sometimes gratitude is profound and experienced in the sublime…like a sunset over the Cristo mountains in Santa Fe or the reliability of the sunrise at daybreak or realizing in a moment that God loves me completely, recklessly and perfectly.
Other times gratitude is discovered in the banal…like that first cup of coffee in the morning or laying down in a bed with clean sheets or watching the dogs play with abandon.
No matter where or how or when you choose gratitude, it is never wasted. The practice of gratitude has the potential to improve your overall health, general disposition and relationships.
I encourage you to experiment with gratitude…count your blessings, lend your neighbor a helping hand, pray for your nemesis at work, start a gratitude journal, say “thank you” more often.
We live in a strange, hurting and broken world. There is no disputing that. I believe that there is a battle between dark and light. The ruler of the dark wants us to stay angry, despondent and hopeless. The ruler of the light offers us peace, joy and hope. No matter how dark your life may be right now, know this. It only takes a tiny amount of light to dispel immense darkness…and provide a path for you to put one foot in front of the other.
Don’t wait until tomorrow…start today…this very moment. What is one thing you can be thankful for? Keep it simple and don’t overthink it. Go for a walk outside. Nature is reliably inspiring. Maybe you can be grateful that you’re able to go outside for a walk.
Are you stuck and struggling to identify something…anything…to be grateful for? Schedule a free discovery session with me by emailing kendall@thediscoverywell.com. I would be honored to speak with you.