How many days do you spend focused on all the things and tasks you must get done? Life is a rat race. Agree? The chaos seems to just keep building everyday. We get so focused on all the stuff we need to do. It's overwhelming. It's, at times, paralyzing.
And then there is that moment when it all seems to slow down. Perspective begins to creep in, and then for an instance, it all feels right.
For me it happened one night on the front porch. I was watching a storm roll in. I was sitting there consumed by all the "crap" coming at me. I was totally locked in on the things I had to do And then my friend showed up. You know that friend, the one who shows up to jerk a knot in us. That friend is gratitude.
Just when we get so stinking focused on how tough it is to get it all done, gratitude shows up to remind us how blessed we really are. Gratitude shows up to make sure we remember what all we have instead of focusing on the things we don't. Gratitude can be the kind friend who nudges us along on the proper path. However, gratitude can also be the tough friend who tells us to wake up and recognize how lucky we are to have all we have.
Let me be honest, I do not know many people who have it better than me, but I forget. I, like many of you, get consumed with all the things I need to do and I forget all the things I have.
I am thankful for my old friend. I am thankful that gratitude stops by when I need to be reminded. Do you need to be reminded how blessed you are? At times we all need to put on our gratitude glasses to see a little clearer.
Perhaps if we embrace all the things our old friend stood for, we would not get so far removed from the way we should live each and everyday. I am thankful for each of you, and I am thankful for reminders of how much I have to be thankful.
Be grateful! Be thankful! Spread the joy! Life's short yall, so let's Swagger On Friends!!
Written by Derron Steenbergen, President of the Swagger Institute
The Swagger Institute is a full service business consulting company specializing in sales and leadership training, motivational speaking, customer service training and organizational development.