It’s the start of a holiday weekend here in the United States. For many of us, it’s the last breath before we dive into the madness of fall activities, a marathon from now until and through the winter holidays with weekends crammed full of school and other events that have waited for the cooler autumn…packed though these few days might be with their own things to do. Hopefully, you will be able to take a small break to enjoy the last days of summer. Either way, take a moment or three to appreciate all of the good things in your life right now, maybe some of the things that are keeping you so busy and maybe some of the freedom you have to pause for a time.
This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned gratitude, though perhaps I don’t mention it often enough because really, it’s something that is important all the time. Thought patterns are habits, and habits are best built by regular practice. We all know the person who always seems to find the bright side, the silver lining, no matter how bad everything is going. They got and stayed there because they work at it. You might not see their internal struggle, especially when you are in the depths of despair yourself, but being positive is work. That’s good news! It means that you can find appreciation and gratitude too, if you are willing to put in the effort.
It doesn’t need to be the big things, being thankful for huge opportunities and inarguably special events. You can recognize those but also recognize and enjoy the small things too: the tiny luxury of your favorite scented body wash to start your day, a short barefoot walk in the grass to your mailbox, a taste of an incredible treat of a dessert, a smile from a classmate or coworker, a hug from a friend, a pet seeking you out to spend time with you. Awful, terrible days, weeks, months, and even more can happen. That doesn’t mean there aren’t little bursts of sunshine in those clouds, the scent of fresh air after a storm, an hour of distraction or peace, even just a funny meme that made you chuckle for a moment.
Here at On Her Own, I’m certainly planning on taking a small break before I hit the road for several classes I’ll be involved in over the next months, as well as other personal obligations. One that you’re all invited to is my class at SIG Sauer Academy, coming up fast on September 17 (2022 – click on the link to sign up). Others, I’ll be reporting back on here as posts are planned to follow my usual schedule. Much like I did over the summer, though, I’d like to ask you: what’s on your mind as we turn the seasons?
And while I wait for your answers, I’m grateful for all of you, who help support and make meaningful my passion of helping women survive and thrive even if they don’t have what the world thinks of as traditional support structures. I’m grateful for the resources to travel and spend time with my family of choice. I’m grateful for Tunacat who likes to hang out on my side table while I work. I’m grateful that I can feel crisp, even chilly mornings coming (in a few months here, I’ll be grateful that warmth is on its way). I’m grateful to have the enduring fitness to do these chin-ups at all after a few months out of the weight room. What are you grateful for?
