Gratitude

Are you fully present in the moment you are in?  Like most, my initial feeling regarding this pandemic was fear of the unknown.  How will I keep my family safe?  How will I keep myself safe while ensuring that we have what we need?  How long will it last?   What will the new landscape of the world be when, if things get back to normal? Thankfully, it didn’t take very long for faith to step in and remind me of who I am and Who is in charge.   With this came peace because I know that, with His grace, our needs will be provided for and we will survive whatever is to come.  Fear has now been replaced with awareness that our collective focus should be on understanding the purpose for all of this.

I thought I already understood but, being forced to eliminate the distractions of my daily routine has taught me what it really means to be still; to fully embrace and feel each moment.  Lately, I’m more aware of the pride I feel in hearing my sons having authentic conversations with each other; my oldest giving his little brother advice on college preparations.  I soak up and savor the joy that comes with seeing their smiles and hearing the sound of their laughter.  My oldest has made it a habit to sit and talk with me every morning while I have coffee before starting my work day.  Even now, in this moment, I smile remembering how he lit up when I told him how much I look forward to our morning talks.  My youngest and I have a standing lunch date every afternoon and we enjoy quiet time reading most evenings.  With my normal work and travel schedule, these moments would not be possible on a daily basis and the real significance is sometimes overshadowed by less important matters.

I believe that we are all innately aware of what we need to be happy but for whatever reason, on a conscious level, we are more focused who or what we want before we’re willing to say we’re happy.  Maybe wants are more attractive because we see them in the possession of others who appear to be happy.  Maybe the needs are more difficult because it requires self-awareness and accepting who and where we are in life.  So, we believe that acquiring things will provide this evasive level of happiness we seek. Whatever the reason, for me, this experience has served as a reminder of how easily anything and anyone can be taken away.  It has proven the importance in surrendering to life’s simplest joys because that is where lasting happiness resides.  

Even though we are just at the beginning stages of this pandemic, I already know that my life won’t be the same after this. I won’t be the same after this.  I have faith that I am prepared for whatever is to come and I am open to the continued lessons that may be a part of the process.  I am grateful that I am still employed, that my family’s needs are provided for and that we continue to be safe. I am especially grateful for the reminder that true happiness is a mental state of mind that comes with knowing that I already have everything I need.