Gratitude for Today
What a week it has been. I've been so behind on work, emails, newsletters, and seemingly all things life that need to get done. Nevertheless, I made it to Friday. Today marks day 12 of my daily walking, and I must say each step invites me into being more present, even when walking sucks—like today. I did not want to walk today. I got my day started late, and I wanted to lazy around. My two toddlers were with me in their huge and heavy jogging stroller when I finally got out, making each block we trekked feel like a HIIT workout. As you can probably gather, I did not want my walk to be a workout.
But I tried to look on the bright side—eventually. I should've been jumping with joyful gratitude, right? I was spending time with 2 of my three kids. The weather was perfect—light, crisp, breezy—and the tree I walk by every day had started to finally get more hues of red and orange on its leaves. Even with all of that being true, I was a grouch the first half of the way.
Thinking of everything from:
Damn it, I want to be home already.
To: I wish I were walking alone not pushing this spaceship of a stroller.
And: Why am I doing this again?
Getting myself out of the funk wasn't easy, but I know that my walks are what I make them, bad attitude or not. I brought myself to remember that after my three-year-old said, "This is your favorite season, right mama? Remember you told me that?"
I smiled and softened.
"Yes, baby—I did tell you that."
It was then that I decided to be grateful instead of being grouchy. Sometimes things don't work out, sometimes we absolutely don't want to get up and out, and there will be moments when we want to be alone—and still, in those moments, we must remember what matters and what feels good. I committed to walking every single day, no matter my mood or the weather because moving my body feels good. And when I get out of my own way, being with my thoughts feels amazing, too. My self-promise was that no matter what, solo or not, the walk will happen and I will be in a decent mood for it. I did this to myself, and, if I'm being frank, it's been the best decision I've made this year for my mental and physical health.
My walks are not a punishment or something to begrudge. They are an act of perseverance, dedication, and presence.
My daughter's question softened my mood and reminded me that this is my favorite season, and I am grateful to be around for it another year. The littlest moments are, at times, the most impactful for me especially when my mood is off or energy is low. After all, that's why I started my gratitude practice, to pay attention to the little moments even when I'm not feeling like my best self.
By the time we made it back home, we were singing songs, collecting colorful leaves, and being silly together. I was being present and open to what was in front of me instead of being a negative Nancy in my head. There are days when finding things to be grateful for seems far away, but today was a good reminder that being grateful starts with what is in our hearts—even on the days that don't go as planned.
Calls to Action
Journal Prompts:
What are you releasing as we step into this new season?
What does letting go teach you about gratitude?
List the ways you want to change.
Watch this on Meditation on Being in Progress
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