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Abstract

as been overwhelming. At the same time, I am fully aware it could have been so much worse. I have to be grateful.It does not require much to engulf me in misery. Depression and anxiety flow over me, and I feel like I sink into quicksand and sit there trying not to move. The <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-raging-storms-daad6242e1e6">feeling</a> is difficult to explain.Recently I have spent too much time there. I am hopeful that the warmer weather, which is slow in arriving this year, will brighten my spirits and dry up the quicksand.I am willing to barter for a summer of peace.Yesterday, I tried to think about what I can be grateful for — the positive aspects of a stressful time.What am I thankful for?I am grateful to be alive. My cancer was found at exactly the right time and had not spread. If I had not found the right doctor, if there had not been a thorough exam or the proper testing, the result would be much different. I am so appreciative of a wonderful group of doctors and a great hospital experience.My husband — I am grateful for his presence and love and that I am here to take care of him. I will always be thankful for his smile, hugs, and love. Still having him here is everything. It sometimes is not easy, but I am willing to barter for the good times.I am grateful for this wonderful spring day, the sun shining, and the beautiful calm water on the lake today.I appreciate that I can walk outside my door any day and be greeted by nature. The deer who wander through our yard, my gardens that will soon burst with flowers, the birds, and the peepers sharing their voices.Today I am so tired, but I am glad that I am alive. I am thankful that I can s

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it here and write this and have the ability to express myself.I am thankful for the cup of coffee I will be enjoying soon. When I drink it, I will read a book and sit with my dog on my lap.When I write one thing that brings me joy, it immediately leads to another — my dog and my cats, my books, my eyesight, and sitting in a comfortable chair. I am grateful for all of those things and many more. We all tend to overlook the good everyday events in our lives. We take them for granted. We should all spend a bit of time each day being thankful.I read a <a href="https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/people-cover-story-michael-reveals-his-secret-sustained-optimism">short article</a> about Michal J. Fox recently in which he explained that he believes gratitude is a practiced thing. He said, “And if you don’t think you have anything to be grateful for, keep looking. Because you don’t just receive optimism. You can’t wait for things to be great and then be grateful for that. You’ve got to behave in a way that promotes that.”We have to promote our optimism. That is what I will be bartering for — being grateful and believing in optimism.“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” ~ Germany KentI hope you enjoyed reading this article. There are many great writers on Medium. If you join Medium you will have unlimited access to all their stories on a wide range of topics. There is a $5.00 monthly fee to join. If you’d like to support me as a writer, consider signing up to <a href="https://medium.com/@lindalatt/membership">become a Medium member</a>, I will earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.</article></body>

Why We Should Have Gratitude

We are responsible for practicing gratitude

Photo by Aleksandr Ledogorov on Unsplash

There have been so many overwhelming and negative happenings for me in the last two years.

Maybe, you feel the same.

I have cast myself in despair and anxiety. Should I?

No, I should not, nor should you.

Yes, it has been devastating, but I cannot let myself dwell here. I will shrivel up and perish if I linger in these thoughts that twist my mind, heart, and soul.

I might not physically die, but I will be empty. I will be devoid of any positive reasoning.

Why would I want to live like that?

Even at the worst of times, there is something for which you can be grateful. You may have to search for it or even convince yourself, but you can find it if you stop for a moment and just breathe.

There are no guarantees for the future in any part of life, but I have always believed that life is magical and full of wonder. Sometimes it comes at a cost “For one white singing hour of peace, Count many a year of strife well lost,”

So yes, the last two years have been full of strife, and it has been overwhelming. At the same time, I am fully aware it could have been so much worse. I have to be grateful.

It does not require much to engulf me in misery. Depression and anxiety flow over me, and I feel like I sink into quicksand and sit there trying not to move. The feeling is difficult to explain.

Recently I have spent too much time there. I am hopeful that the warmer weather, which is slow in arriving this year, will brighten my spirits and dry up the quicksand.

I am willing to barter for a summer of peace.

Yesterday, I tried to think about what I can be grateful for — the positive aspects of a stressful time.

What am I thankful for?

I am grateful to be alive. My cancer was found at exactly the right time and had not spread. If I had not found the right doctor, if there had not been a thorough exam or the proper testing, the result would be much different. I am so appreciative of a wonderful group of doctors and a great hospital experience.

My husband — I am grateful for his presence and love and that I am here to take care of him. I will always be thankful for his smile, hugs, and love. Still having him here is everything. It sometimes is not easy, but I am willing to barter for the good times.

I am grateful for this wonderful spring day, the sun shining, and the beautiful calm water on the lake today.

I appreciate that I can walk outside my door any day and be greeted by nature. The deer who wander through our yard, my gardens that will soon burst with flowers, the birds, and the peepers sharing their voices.

Today I am so tired, but I am glad that I am alive. I am thankful that I can sit here and write this and have the ability to express myself.

I am thankful for the cup of coffee I will be enjoying soon. When I drink it, I will read a book and sit with my dog on my lap.

When I write one thing that brings me joy, it immediately leads to another — my dog and my cats, my books, my eyesight, and sitting in a comfortable chair. I am grateful for all of those things and many more. We all tend to overlook the good everyday events in our lives. We take them for granted. We should all spend a bit of time each day being thankful.

I read a short article about Michal J. Fox recently in which he explained that he believes gratitude is a practiced thing. He said, “And if you don’t think you have anything to be grateful for, keep looking. Because you don’t just receive optimism. You can’t wait for things to be great and then be grateful for that. You’ve got to behave in a way that promotes that.”

We have to promote our optimism. That is what I will be bartering for — being grateful and believing in optimism.

“It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” ~ Germany Kent

I hope you enjoyed reading this article. There are many great writers on Medium. If you join Medium you will have unlimited access to all their stories on a wide range of topics. There is a $5.00 monthly fee to join. If you’d like to support me as a writer, consider signing up to become a Medium member, I will earn a small commission. Thank you for your support.