What Gratitude Really Means to Me

 

For a long time, I thought gratitude meant being thankful for the big things. A good job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, financial security, or accomplishing something I worked hard for. 

In my old age, I am beginning to realize that gratitude is so much more than “the big things.”

To me - gratitude is being able to recognize that life can be imperfect and still be beautiful.

It’s appreciating what I have without pretending that I don’t want more. It’s being thankful for where I am while acknowledging that I’m still working toward where I want to be (not easy at ALL by the way).

It’s understanding that I can have difficult days and still have a wonderful life. I can be (and am at times) frustrated with my circumstances and still recognize the blessing surrounding me. 

I have been called toxicity positive many times - I have discussed it in depth on this blog more times than I should have needed to. But I am someone who is trying to continue to see the good in things when all I really want to do is throw up my hands and say eff it. 

I do my best to find the silver lining in every scenario (it might take me a minute sometimes.. but I look for it). It does not mean I shrug off the overall feelings of the moment or brush off when things are shit. 

Gratitude isn’t settling. It isn’t ignoring disappointment of convincing yourself that everything is okay when it isn’t. 

It’s perspective. 

It’s choosing to notice the good without dismissing the hard. And maybe most importantly - it’s learning that happiness doesn’t have to wait until all the pieces fall into place. 

Sometimes - it’s already here. We just need to be brave enough to slow down long enough to notice it.