This time of year, we take the time to find gratitude in our hearts and take some time to reflect.
The mainstream media, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, social media etc. have quite a stream of bad news: people inflicting violence upon others and themselves, opposing sides of hatred, separation, greed, disease, sexual assault, inequality, racism, death.. it goes on and on.
What we struggle with is finding true connection with one another. There is us and there is them. When we look at our neighbors as others, we discount them and begin to despise them. When we look at our neighbors as brothers and sisters we tend to look at them with an openness, forgiveness and love.
I wish for you, my brothers and sisters to look forward with a new outlook that despite the divisiveness that we find ourselves in almost daily, that you can find gratitude and love there too. This life is a beautiful one if you look hard enough. There are so many things to be grateful for. Try asking yourself daily, better yet set a reminder on your smartphone asking you:
“What are you grateful for?”
A simple question that is simply not thought about much. If we take a moment out of our busy and filled-to-the-brim day to reflect on our lives we can find many things to be thankful for.
This list can show up as small or very large and miraculous things. I am never saying that bad things don’t happen, because they certainly do, but they can consume us if we let them. Taking the time to find gratitude can change how we reflect love back onto the world we live in. And the world does in fact need more love.
Here’s to love and gratitude to you all this season and always.