Attitude of Gratitude

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the harsh reality that our daily existence can be flipped in an instant. Our usual ebb and flow halted. Forcing us to reconcile what was, and reconstruct what is.

Sadness. Fear. Grief. These are all common – and expected – reactions for a global event of this magnitude.

We have all lost something. The depth, the intensity of loss varies for each of us. There is no measuring stick for this type of loss. Time with loved ones. Years of hard work and life savings invested to build a business. Relationships dissolved. Lives lost. Health weakened. Savings diminished.

In the wake of all this loss, there have also been extraordinary gains.

Yes, gains.

Clarity for what truly matters. Gain.

Renewed sense of purpose. Gain.

Gratitude for what we have. Gain.

Yes, Gratitude. If there has ever been a time to be mindful of what’s important to you – truly important to you – this is it. Perspective has that effect – and we have all earned a seat at the head of 2020’s perspective table.

Life is not a zero-sum game. We can have gains, despite the immeasurable loss. There is no requirement for them to equal. There is no expectation for gains and loss to cancel each other out to qualify a value.

Despite the loss, we can still be grateful for what remains.

We can chose an Attitude of Gratitude.

Gratitude requires a mental shift. A conscious choice to harness the instinctive energy that flows through us as we respond to a stimulus, and apply a gratitude filter. This does not imply the event – stimuli – was insignificant. This does not imply your irritation, frustration, and anger are not legitimate responses. They likely are, and we are all entitled to feel that way. I’m not saying this is easy.

It’s not easy at all. But it is simple.

It is a choice. And we get to choose.

Every moment of gratitude inspires another. Often setting off a chain reaction of appreciation.

It’s raining. A free car wash. Gratitude.

It’s cold, but I need to walk the dog. Gratitude for my selection of warm coats, hats, mitts. Gratitude for another moment shared with my little fur companion, witnessing his pure joy for a casual morning walk to sniff and fake pee his way around the block. Gratitude. Knowing so many dog owners would give anything to take their dog for just one more walk.

I have to store my motorcycle for the season. Gratitude for another safe and enjoyable riding season.

My phone ringing while I’m in the middle of something. Gratitude for people reaching out. For clients that found me and call to connect.

Stuck in traffic. Grateful to have somewhere to be, and a car to take me there. Gratitude for the extra time I have to listen to my Stephen Covey audiobook and his wisdom nuggets fill my car.

Perspective helps.

I remember a time when I would get irritated by the daily routine of getting ‘ready’ for the day – shower, hair, makeup. This was often triggered because of the time differential between how long it took me to get ready versus the time it took my husband. In my mind – completely unfair. All it took to shift this perspective was to lay in a hospital bed without a hot shower for 6 days. I’ll honestly never forget the soothing comfort of that first shower when I got home from the 6 days in the hospital. I’ll never complain about a hot shower again.

Perspective shift = Attitude of Gratitude.

Again, it’s not easy. But it is simple. I’m a work in progress. Always a work in progress. But I do know, with full certainty, when I practice an Attitude of Gratitude, the world around me looks a little brighter.

With gratitude, always.