Mindful

Thankful for Being Thankful

Jeanna G1 Comment

At a Thanksgiving dinner with friends, everyone was asked to share one thing they are thankful for. It was hard for me to pick just one thing. 

As a kid, when I was asked to say the blessing, my siblings would groan because they knew the food would get cold before I’d finish. I’d thank God for kitty cats and flowers, friends and sunshine, rainbows and toys, family and tv shows, music and games, and the list went on. 

Now don’t get me wrong. I, like many of you out there, haven’t always lived in a world full of laffy taffy and bouncy houses. I’ve spent a lot of time down in the dumps. And if you’ve been there, I feel you and I hope your situation changes soon. But the fact that my life has changed direction makes my gratitude authentic. I have so much more to be thankful for than to complain about. And so, it’s just easier to think more about the good. 

My childhood friend, Nicole, calls me an eternal optimist. And she’s right! I do tend to see the sunny side of things, and I point those out to others who need a little more light in their lives. Optimism isn’t just about seeing the glass half full; it’s a way of life for me, an instinctual commitment.  

As usual, my overthinking lead me to the most simplest of answers: I am thankful for being thankful. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you today, and every day! 

The Butterfly Effect of Parenting

Jeanna G3 Comments

You’re pondering life with friends, and someone asks, “If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be?” Does something immediately come to mind? Do you wonder if it has to be just one thing, or do you come up empty? Or, are you so happy with how your life has turned out, that you don’t want to change anything and risk losing what you have today?

Do you think one change of the past could have a huge, life-altering impact? What if you could go back and change things, and your life today would stay the same, but you wouldn’t have the memory of what you changed? Would the absence of the memory alter how you go about your day-to-day, how you feel about yourself, or how you interact with others? 

I like to think I’m special because my middle school-aged daughter still tells me what’s on her mind, about her crushes and dilemmas with friends, and asks my advice. But that got me wondering, how many of her seemingly mundane, inconsequential decisions – that I’m influencing – will actually have a huge impact on where and how she’s living life 30 years from now? Are any of the decisions she’s making today going to be the ones she rues? That’s a lot of responsibility!

As a parent, I know that I have the very serious and scary job of influencing a lot of her decisions, with both my words and actions. I think the hardest part is discerning when to take the wheel, and when to take a back seat. I hope I always have the choice, because I know it’s ultimately up to her to either hear me out or tune me out. All I really know today is that, 30 years from now, if I’m asked what I would change, I don’t want to be wishing I had been a better parent. 

Worth the Practice

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How important is spirituality in your life?

Spirituality plays a large role in my daily living and thinking. I don’t pencil “Practice Spirituality” onto my to-do list because it has become a natural part of who I am. Yes, I am a Christian, and I pray daily and go to church regularly. However, this is not all of what spirituality means to me.

I believe spirituality has to do with why I live my life the way I do. What do I think my purpose is, and how do I live to achieve it? In the search for the meaning of life, what choices am I making that are guiding me to the answer I hope to find?

Spiritual wellness also means feeling joy. What do I do to feel alive deep in my soul? I listen to music that gives me chills. I spend time in community to share in the joy of others. I watch sports because I love to cheer and celebrate the accomplishments of those who have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into achieving a goal. I read books and view works of art so that I can gain new perspectives and learn to appreciate new things. And I spend time with my pets because they remind me that happiness can be as easy as a back scratch, a treat, and a nap.

Now if only I could practice meditation without grocery list distraction!