Complications Ease When You Get Caught in Gratitude

My 8-year-old daughter was home sick from school yesterday. Stuffed up nose and itchy, sore throat. Nothing major, fortunately. But enough to really mess up my schedule. Enough to really fire-up my stress.

I mean, have you seen my To-Do List? Probably a lot like yours. Medical appointments and work deadlines, bills to pay, gifts to pick up. I also need to get to the DEQ before the end of the year. My to-do list doesn’t leave time for a sick kid.

But, about halfway through The Sound of Music, when she was snuggled up close to me, watching the kids walk around in the drapes for her first time, I started to well up with emotion. I finally got it.

My daughter was home sick with a cold – that’s all. Not cancer. Not arthritis or heart disease. She was stuffed up. And, I was the one person who in some little way could hold her and comfort her on the couch for a day.

I also could stay home with her without worry about keeping my job. Because despite the demanding work schedule, I’m self-employed and my boss gave me time off to help my kid.

And there is was. Gratitude. The things I was worrying about and stressing over were parts of the life I love. The one I’m creating. I was overcome with gratitude and it elevated the moment which just a second before had been filled with frustration and stress.

Go with Gratitude

Life is demanding. We’ve got big-time things to think about. People counting on us to do our work and raise our families and pay our bills and show up on time and even the smallest changes can throw us into a spin-cycle of stress and uncertainty.

Yet. right there in the middle of the very thing we are griping about are the things we also adore. The things that add meaning and joy and love to our lives.  They are right there in that same moment.

We can forget to look for the gratitude though. Life can feel scary and hard and bigger than we are. The daily routine can be a drain. Even the little things can throw us, a la work due when the kid calls sick from school – but when we stop freaking and start looking at what lies beneath, there is plenty to appreciate.

Try it: You know that little thing you’ve been stressed or complaining about? Give it a little love instead. Tired of cooking dinner? Instead of complaining be grateful you have the food. Crazy schedules? So happy you are healthy enough to be busy. Too much traffic? How nice you have a car.

So often we get caught up in the complication. Instead, get caught up in gratitude. Your life won’t be free from challenge or stress, but you’ll feel better when you meet it.