What Are You Grateful for Today? A Reflection on Gratitude

I have a question: What are you grateful for today?

Just over a year ago, on 27 March 2020, I posed this same question to a group of friends and family—and the world—on my YouTube channel with a liiiiittle fear of what was to come. Like so many others, I questioned my so-called future plans and took a moment to pause with my kind companion, Introspection. Though she visits often, on this particular day she made my spirit rumble with reflection.

Sure, it’s already somewhat difficult for me to accept the things I cannot change (haha). However (comma), at the time, it seemed no one could accept the change nor did we have a solution to work towards. So what was best for me at the time of total chaos, concern, and uncertainty? Expressions of gratitude along with transparency of the fear stemmed from the uncalculated changes. Many “uncomfortable thoughts and feelings” reared their ugly head. And I welcomed them with tears.

In My Thoughts

In March 2020, I shared with the world ...

“I don’t know when I’ll be able to see my family again. I currently reside in Missouri, my parents live in Texas … When am I going to be able to smell my mother’s perfume again? When will I be able to laugh and enjoy my brother’s bear hugs? When will I be able to just embark … sit in silence, and simply enjoy the calm and wisdom that my father brings just by sitting next to him?”

My Kinfolk.

Today, as I watched and revisited my vulnerability in the video, I was brought to tears - again.

Why? Because this month I smelled my mother’s perfume, embraced my brother in spirit from a loving distance, and sat in gentle silence with my father’s soothing presence. What a privilege!

Finding Gratitude in the Midst of the Storm

For many, the experience of gratitude is difficult to attain because of the intangible dis-ease the past year brought to each of our doorsteps. So many have grappled with grief (personally and professionally), repeatedly squashed the roach of racism, and reexamined their personal definition of purpose. Like you, I have encountered each of these challenges.

Today, regardless of my circumstance, I am comforted and grateful for the unforeseen decisions I made in response to each of them.

So … What are you grateful for today?

Until next time … Joyous Journey.

Elora