Thoughts on Gratitude for Those Who’ve Been (or are going) Through Hell
A few years back I stood up in front of my aunts, uncles, cousins, children, parent, grandparent, and extended family at the Thanksgiving table and volunteered to say the dinner prayer. I didn’t usually volunteer for something like that. But that year, just a few months before we’d secured an apartment. In September, just a few days before my kids would start school my brother and I had snagged a cheap two bedroom apartment to share with my children. My kids and I had just spent the summer homeless. We weren’t on the street, but we had been sleeping in my mom’s living room for over two months. It might not seem that bad if you’ve never had to do it, but if you have–YOU KNOW how demoralizing it is to lose your home.
I cannot tell you how thankful I was to have our own apartment, with our own furniture, our own space, and a fridge full of food. With tears streaming down my face (you know I’m a crier) I shared how thankful I was that we had home, a roof of our own over our heads, and that we could afford to make the drive up to Northern California for Thanksgiving. I think a lot of us cried at that dinner table that night. It wasn’t the first time my kids and I had been through hell and it wouldn’t be the last, but I had never felt so thankful in all my life just to have a home.
Maybe life is peachy for you right now and if it is I’m so glad. But if you’re going through some shit, or if you just pulled yourself free of some and you’re still washing off the grime and massaging the scars, I hope these thoughts will bring you some comfort and thanksgiving:
You normally have to be bashed about a bit by life to see the point of daffodils, sunsets and uneventful nice days.
― Alain de Botton
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced to by them.
― Maya Angelou
If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.
― Maya Angelou
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.
― Meister Eckhart
I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful–for all of it.
― Kristin Armstrong
Often there’s a secret courage hidden in the pocket of our deepest fears saying, “Bring it on mutherfucker.”
― Curtis Tyrone Jones
Big love and thankfulness to you for reading this. I hope it helped, if only a little.
~Andrea
Could you use some inspiration?
Sign up for my monthly emails. I'm not talking about sending you some bullshit-life-is-all-flowers-and-rainbows inspirations. I send real-talk about staying motivated and determined to live your dreams.
I promise I'll only send good things. So join up. I'd love to have you with us! ~Andrea
This made my day 🙂
I’m so glad!