One of the things I’m truly grateful for in writing this blog is that it provides me with a snapshot of where I was at a particular time. I started writing this blog at a very difficult time in my life and it has seen me slowly coming back into equilibrium and moving into new places. The challenges of those months became crucibles in which I’ve been fired, impurities beginning to burn out and the pure gold is beginning to shine through. Tonight I spun the wheel and was pleased at the selection because it offers me an opportunity to gauge from when I’ve come in these 644 days of writing. So I am going to share in its entirety Day 7 of Lessons in Gratitude:
“I am grateful today for perseverance. I looked it up in the dictionary just now and perseverance is defined as “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”I can look back over times in my life when I have persevered through some pretty significant difficulties and made it through to the other side. I love the word steadfastness–you stay strong and move forward even if the outcome of what you’re doing is in doubt,or at the very least success is delayed.
And while I’m on “per”words,I’ll add the word persistence,which is defined as “firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.”They’re connected,these two concepts. I watched my son struggling to learn a difficult piece of music. Over and over he played it,watching a video of the artist playing it,then imitating his fingerings and cadence. His persistence has thus far gotten him halfway through what he says is an “impossible”song. I’ve watched him do this many times,because his music is important to him. His persistence is admirable,and definitely firm and obstinate! I’ve little doubt he’ll master the piece in no time,even though he is largely learning it by ear and imitation.
I need to continue to persevere and persist during this period of drought in my life. I’ve known drought before and I likewise know the blessed relief when the heavens open and the rain begins falling again. That knowledge is in part what allows me to get up each morning and face the new day with a measure of hope and optimism. I a grateful for a legacy of perseverance not just in my own life,but in the lives of others in my family and others around me.
I am glad to have been able to write about gratitude these past seven days. I have no idea how long I’ll persist in writing these blogs. I do know that the exercise of focusing on and writing about what I am grateful for continues to be helpful to me. I hope those of you who read these periodically also find something in them to get you thinking about what you’re grateful for. There’s always something if I am willing to look for it.”
I am grateful for the progress I’ve made in my journey thus far. It has not been easy and there are still times when I am incredibly tired and want nothing more than to sit down right in the middle of what I’m doing and take a long rest. For now I cannot take that rest, but am looking forward to the day when I can at least slow and enjoy it all a little bit more. Til then I’ll be grateful for those moments of respite that come in the midst of the frenzy. I am committed to working toward better overall health and wellbeing and I set the intention that I’m going to take affirmative steps in that direction. I look forward to reaping the benefits of exercising self care, as soon as I learn how to do it!
