There seems to be a season of gratefulness that is always present around the holidays…you know what I’m talking about…it’s that timespan between Thanksgiving and New Years that you see on everyone’s Facebook feed about how they are grateful this season for the provision that has been given over them and their loved ones.
Yet just as quickly as this heart of thanksgiving comes it also disappears…you also know what I’m talking about…it’s those Facebook statuses that talk about how the customer service was awful today at the local grocery store, or how that one person is in need of a ‘well-deserved break to recoup their strength after the long work day.’
So why is it that we are only grateful part of the year?
Why is it that more times than none we see the bad in things before we see the good?
Well it’s a good thing we can turn these questions upside down, am I right? You see finding thanks in everything is challenging don’t get me wrong, but isn’t it so much sweeter to embrace the good and to praise the little victories rather than to focus on the stumbles.
While complaining only allows us to see our less-than perfect circumstances, being grateful however, is not dependent on anything other than our inward selves wanting to see the good above the bad.
For me personally I have noticed not only from my experience but others as well that when choosing to hold thanksgiving at all times it almost becomes this subconscious decision that is made for you out of your habit for it.
At the pharmacy that I work at, a part of my job consists of assisting customers when picking up their medication and answering any questions or concerns they may have. *For the sake of the story let’s just call this lady Ms. P. * Ms. P came into the pharmacy in a whirlwind of emotions that was evident all across her face. Out of trying to alleviate some of her frustration I asked if there was anything I might be able to help her with today. Her short response of simply “No” only pressed me into a conversation.
After a solid fifteen minutes of chitchat I could tell that she wasn’t as frantic as when she first arrived. Later on, as she was packing her things up and getting ready to leave I just told her thank you for our conversation and that is was a pleasure to meet someone like her. And as she uttered back, “It feels good to be appreciated like that,” this seventy-three year old woman’s eyes then being to swell with tears.
It changed me…right then and there. It wasn’t my conversation with this woman that impacted her so deeply, it wasn’t me going out of my way to make sure her prescription was filled properly, it was me merely saying thank you for her presence.
Both Ms. P and myself felt the power of thanksgiving that day, it showed me that others are grateful of feeling appreciated and wanted even in circumstances where they don’t feel worthy. Nevertheless, it reminded me to not only be grateful for the experiences and unknowing pleasures in life but to not be shy to share that joy of gladness.
