Tags
cats, family, friends, gratitude, mindfulness, self-care, self-compassion, tea, yoga
Tonight I decided that I would write about gratitude, because, quite frankly, I need the reminder. Today was a perfectly good day and yet I find myself feeling really angry, frustrated, and generally disenchanted with life. I’m not going to go into these crappy feelings, but I am going to start making a list of everything I’m grateful for. So, here goes…
- My friends and family. Despite missing Ottawa terribly, I’m grateful for technology that keeps me in touch with my people back home, and I am also grateful for the lovely people I’ve met in Toronto so far.
- My cat. She keeps my feet warm while I sleep and is the reason I get up in the morning (she needs to be fed!)
- Mindfulness. This practice has been the one thing that has kept me sane over the last 6 months.
- Yoga. I could lump this in with mindfulness, but it’s so wonderful that it merits its own mention, and it adds another number to this list.
- Being on the right track. This is a less definable thing… but I’m grateful for the path that I’m on in the grand scheme of things. Despite my current frustrations and apathy, I am excited for where life is going to take me. Which brings me to…
- Being in Toronto. While being in Toronto is part of why I’m in the dumps (I miss Ottawa), I want to remind myself that Toronto is an awesome city. I like living downtown, I love being able to walk everywhere, and it is amazing to have a subway a stone’s throw from my house when I don’t feel like walking.
- Doing my Master’s in Counselling Psychology. Similar to being in Toronto, doing my master’s is also a current source of frustration and apathy. Despite currently being disenchanted, I want to remind myself that at this time last year, I was actually doing a happy dance when I receive my letter of acceptance. While I may not be thrilled about being in the thick of it right now, I know my master’s is going to get me where I want to go (see # 5).
- The possibility of getting a guide dog. Although even this is a current source of stress in my life, and I don’t feel excited about it right now, I know that this opportunity is incredibly exciting and just might be the adventure I need to shake things up a little bit. A guide dog could also potentially reduce a lot of my current stress when I’m out navigating the world.
- Kind and helpful strangers. I have recently noticed more and more people coming out of the woodwork to lend me a hand. On one hand, I realize that this is in part due to the fact that I’m taking longer to assess situations, and it’s those moments that I look kind of helpless when people step up. On the other hand, I don’t really care, and I’m just SO grateful for their help.
- Life. I figured I would end with a big one, and here’s where I’ll get cheesy. While life is frustrating, sad, and exhausting sometimes, it is also happy, rewarding and exciting at other times. You can’t appreciate the good as fully without having experienced the bad. Although I’m currently in the dumps, I know I won’t always be. This too shall pass.
Gratitude Bonuses!
- Tea. I have a mug that says “All you need is tea and warm socks.” Enough said… especially with this winter!
- Bubble baths. Well, along with tea, the next crutch that I’ve relied on to keep me sane this winter are bubble baths. What better way to wind down after a day!
Believe it or not… I actually feel better! It amazes me how a simple thing like gratitude can actually have an impact. My goal this week has been to practice self-compassion, and this small exercise in gratitude is just part one for the night. Now I am off for part two: tea and a bubble bath!