I could be angry that my mother has dementia and can't speak to me,
but I am grateful that she is happy and loved and healthy.
I could be angry that my father died without seeing my second son graduate,
but I am grateful that he lived 89 long, happy and independent years.
I could be angry that my sisters died young and I don't get to enjoy them as adults,
but I am grateful that they gave me a perspective on life and death at a young age that was the gift of a lifetime.
I could be angry that social media takes up so much of our children's lives, but I am grateful that because of social media I stay so current with so many friends and family that I otherwise could not.
I could be angry that there is so much anger and divisiveness in this country, but I am grateful that we live in a country where that debate is allowed and ultimately serves us.
I could be angry that I can't get these last 10 pounds off, but I am grateful that I am healthy and alive... and lighter than I have been most of my adult life.
I could be angry that my son has to go back to college today, but I am grateful that we have the means and he has the interest to come home to share these holidays.
I could be angry that my father's paperwork for his assets is so painful to resolve, but I am grateful that we don't need those assets to live and can be patient to resolve them.
I could be angry that my son hasn't finished his college applications and seems to lack energy and enthusiasm for his own future, but I am grateful that he is thoughtful and considerate and that he has submitted 3 and continues to make progress on the rest.
I could be angry that life is so busy that I don't get to meditate or work on some things that are important to me, but I am grateful for the success of my business and my family that keeps me busy.
I could be angry at myself for so many reasons... too many to count and you have heard most of them, but I am grateful that I am objective and thoughtful, and I see myself honestly and I am improving over time.
In every aspect of my life, I could be angry and frustrated and WISHING it was different... on the big meaningful things... and on the small meaningless details...
And, in all aspects I try, in every instance, to see the value, the beauty, the good...
THE "IS"...
And, not just SEE it, but APPRECIATE it...
I heard Tony Robbins once say, "anger and gratitude can't coexist. Those two emotions cannot be felt together." And, I am fairly convinced it is true...
What are you angry about?
What frustrates you?
Being grateful for the "IS" of it, doesn't eliminate your ability and opportunity to WANT and work on evolving it into a new reality... a new "IS".
Gratitude doesn't have to be complacency with the status-quo... It's just a better place to start our energy and our actions.
It not only changes the flavor of our life for ourselves...
but it changes the flavor of life for those we share it with!
It not only changes the tone of our actions...
It changes our effectiveness and increases the probability of our success.
Gratitude doesn't have to mean ACCEPTANCE going forward,
it simply means APPRECIATION for having made it this far.
We speak to gratitude often, and we often say we understand it's important. But, so very often I see us leap from those words right to "BUT"... and "ANGER" or "FRUSTRATION" follow.
I WANT BETTER IN MY LIFE - in all aspects of my life - and those of the people I love.
In NO ASPECT of my life am I "ok" with not improving upon it...
AND, I AM GRATEFUL FOR EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE...
or, I try to be... because I know all of it could be very different...
There are also of course, those few things which we truly cannot change. Those are few but absolute. Possibly the smartest words I've ever heard, you have heard as well, "God, grant me the patience to accept those things that I cannot change, the strength to change the ones that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Possibly the only thing we ever need to know about success and happiness.
EVERYthing that has the potential to "bother" me about my life is so very clearly a blessing...
I am not hiding from the truth...
I am trying to live fully in it...
And, grateful for it.
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend...
Linger in gratitude,
and,
in harmony,
Nestor