Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash
We all have days we wake up feeling grateful and days we have to dig deep to pull out the things we should be grateful for.
Gratitude takes time. Gratitude takes practice.
Growing up, we were programmed to feel and express gratitude when we were given something, but material possessions were never meant to be everlasting. As we grew older, we felt the emptiness between not having something, getting something, and waiting for the next best thing.
And while you’re here and you know that gratitude isn’t found in tangible things, I’d like to remind you of what gratitude is for the days when gratitude doesn’t appear first thing in the morning.
Gratitude is your response to recognizing the abundance of existence. It’s an overwhelming feeling that expands in your chest, not because of the things you possess, but rather the ability to have a body that is able to see, feel, and think.
It’s witnessing profound beauty like the sunrise. It’s knowing where your food came from. It’s having access to the internet to expand your mind. It’s a cup of brewed coffee in the morning. It’s the clothes protecting your skin. It’s having family, friends, and a job. It’s the ability to fall in love, to celebrate birth or a promotion. It’s recognizing that something negative you went through turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It’s the ability to feel every emotion.
Gratitude is the act of partnership with the universe. It’s knowing the universe is taking care of you and you thanking it in return to create balance and harmony—a feeling of connection. It’s thankfulness for life and for God. It’s a feeling of abundance on an ordinary day. It’s a feeling that makes you want to give more than you’ve been receiving. It’s a feeling of peace and contentment with whatever you have.
It’s a feeling that makes life worth living—a feeling that makes you want to stay in this world and come back for more.