With the Change of the Seasons Comes Gratitude

Right around Thanksgiving, the leaves that were once vibrantly green in the spring and summer months, which then shifted into full golden-orange splendor throughout October, are now scattered across our lawns and sidewalks. The autumn months always give us a bountiful harvest of glorious beauty that can take our breath away. Walking along the pathways, I can see fallen leaves dancing in swishing patterns with the winds, marking the change in the seasons. Along with nature’s bounty, fall brings us family-filled holidays with delectable foods we share around the table. I always look forward to gathering around with my family and friends at this time and enjoying their company.

At this time of the year, it’s so easy to get caught up in its hectic energy. Precisely because of this, I find it so important to think about everything that make our lives wonderful. We may be struggling with deadlines, projects, family responsibilities, personal strife, stressful situations; all the things that take our attention away from the present moment we are living in. These things can pull us in every direction and cause us to forget what we love about our lives. We all have that commonality. It is what makes us human. One way to gain clarity is to journal.

I find journaling offers me a way to reach parts of myself that I’ve long locked away. Journaling has also given me the gift of remembering all the many joyous things that I love about my life. It’s so easy to forget these things and instead focus on our unending tasks at hand. So, I made the decision to practice giving thanks this week by journaling about what I am grateful for. I did so via a method of continuous free writing that allows me to reach a state of flow. It allows you to let go and gives you access to ideas, images, and words that might not come easily if the critical voice is amplified. I highly recommend doing this when writing about the things you are grateful for.   

In my ‘thanks giving’ journal practice, I found that my experience as an immigrant informs many of the things I am truly grateful for. I know that I would never have succeeded in my business or my life in the same way if I had not come to the U.S.A. Women have more opportunities here to succeed in their careers than they do in other countries. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the freedom and entrepreneurial mindset that the American Dream affords those who work hard. It gives us all hope for better lives.

Another thing that I thought about while writing my gratitude journal was an anecdote that our family dentist often told my children, Sunny and Sabina, when they were young. He would say to them that they needed to brush only the teeth they wish to keep. I understood this as a form of practice in which we attend to the things we cherish and want to hold onto, whether its people, health, memories, good habits, or things that are meaningful to us. A gratitude journal allows us to focus on the things we hold near and dear to our hearts. It also allows us to look at our lives through a lens of thankfulness, rather than one of resentfulness.

Especially as the leaves begin to fall and winter sets in, the grass may begin to seem greener elsewhere. When that happens, it is time to think about the things in our lives that make it so worthwhile. This can help us weather the storms we face and can give clarity to our lives. I encourage you to write a thanks giving journal this Thanksgiving week. Perhaps you might consider incorporating this into your weekly habits. You will see how it changes your perspective on your life.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving this year and hope you have a wonderful holiday!

PS, If you’re willing, I’d love to hear what you are grateful for too. We all have different things that we love about our lives. Feel free to share them in the comments. ??