There is no denying it, with Thanksgiving less than a week away and Christmas, as usual, not trailing too far behind, the holiday season is upon us! With the buzz in the air, it truly is a magical time.
However, this time of year can also be complicated for many people. Though it is a time of joy, love, and giving, it can also be a time for struggle. Holidays can stir all kinds of emotions, ranging from childhood wounds to newly discovered hurdles, and I have been reminding myself that not everyone wears their struggle on their sleeve. Yet just another reason to be kinder than necessary.
This week we had great discussion in my women’s Life group. As we shared some of our own struggles and triumphs, we got into the ever-so-popular topic of gratitude. I’m not sure which of my wise lady friends said it, but the idea of being grateful in things not just for things was mentioned and it really resonated with me. In fact, I have not been able to stop thinking about it.
Being grateful for things is wonderful, but learning to be grateful in things will transform your life.
On the home front, the girls have been faithfully filling out their gratitude journals with what they are grateful for each day. They’ve written quite the array of thanks, being grateful for spending time baking with mom (awww) to being grateful for Halloween Candy (chocolate specifically for Kaitlyn). I love watching their mental process as they think through their day and pick out the things they are most grateful for. What a beautiful introduction to the concept of gratitude!
However, I’m learning there is another, dare I say more complicated?, layer of gratitude: the importance of being grateful in things, not just for things. This is an advance step and in my own tough times, it requires more intentional daily practice. However, I believe the ability to be grateful even when we don’t feel grateful is transformational.
Nobody is grateful for a bad day, for the flu hitting their house, for the loss of a job, for the internal struggles we face, but we can work on being grateful in them. Being able to name our blessings when life is the most difficult is probably even more important than recognizing them when times are smooth-sailing.
I’ve been practicing this myself lately and though it doesn’t make struggles disappear, it does allow me to avoid going down the victim/self-pity route. It allows me to be present and celebrate the joys of friends and family. It allows me to see all the beauty and good around me and in my own life.
So whether your life is overflowing with joys this time of year or whether you are feeling depleted in mind, body, or spirit, I encourage you to join me in being grateful in this season. I am grateful for you, this community, for allowing me to write from my heart, no matter how scatterbrained it may come across at times. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Does gratitude come naturally to you?
Is it something you practice?
What is one thing you are grateful for at this very moment?
If this topic sparks an interest in you, here are two great articles on the topic:
How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times
JOHN J STATHAS says
Good timing. I’ve been in an enhanced gratitude mode of late and appreciate your focus on it and for being a big part of my gratitude list! See you soon!
Brittany Dixon says
Love you, Dad! You guys pile on the layers this weekend! I’ll be thinking of you from the coziness of my couch and fire 😉
Heather says
Thank you for this post! I have been having a really rough couple of weeks…a lot of stressful situations and it’s still ongoing. It’s so frustrating because I just want to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays, but it has been hard. This post gave me a renewed perspective. Perspective is everything, and this too shall pass.
Brittany Dixon says
Sending a big hug your way, Heather. I hope you are able to find peace with whatever is going on in your heart and enjoy some special moments during this busy season <3
Linda says
Great post! That last picture of your girls just made me smile. So very sweet!!
Brittany Dixon says
Thank you! <3
Grandma Honey says
Where did you find those adorable dresses for your girls?
Brittany Dixon says
They are Alice and Ames (https://aliceandames.com/) so comfy for the girls too!
Laura says
Great post! As a teacher I am constantly reminding myself that many of my students struggle this time of year, even when, as you say, they don’t show this struggle on their sleeve. Custody issues and divorce, jail time for parents or relatives, death, sickness and suicide, money and job losses, relocation and eviction, are all things I have witnessed my students suffer from, often silently. It is heart breaking to see them suffer, and undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges as a teacher, to not be able to help, other than offer to listen and show compassion. And then to turn around and leave school for breaks and spend time with my own wonderful, happy and healthy family makes me realize even more how privileged we are.
Emily says
Need this today – thank you.
Sherry says
So well said Brittany. Instead of “counting sheep” to sleep at night, I’ve been counting blessings. Giving that cashier a smile or kind word could possibly make a difference in their day.
The girls radiate caring and love and look so adorable in those dresses!
Sarah says
wonderful post. some bloggers casually mention gratitude this time of year but you dive in, both feet. This is an extreme situation but my second daughter died and the grief harmed everything in my life for the year after. Through therapy and time and work, I have been able to transition my grief into total gratitude for what her death gave me in appreciating what i have in my living older daughter, rainbow baby, renewed marriage and returned happy home. When I think of her now, I feel so much more thankfulness than sadness. I could have gone through life without ever knowing that depth of emotion, even though I’ll never know her. We’re doing daily gratitude leaves on a tree in our dining room with my 3yo and its precious to hear her come up with daily leaves. Often she has a hard time choosing and asks for extra!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh Sarah, wow. Just wow. There is no doubt the grief you went through is the hardest thing in the world and the fact you are able to carry on with gratitude in your heart is completely inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing your story with me <3
Katie says
Love this concept. I agree- finding the good during difficult times is so important and an amazing concept to teach!
Brittany V says
You are speaking to my heart today friend… next week marks the 3rd year that my family who has been missing my 9 year old niece, who had aplastic anemia 🙁 the holidays have been very difficult the past 2 years, and we have sort of just trudged through them like they are a battle. This year, it’s still really painful, but I am trying really hard to find a little joy and gratitude in every day … she was a brace, formidable, inspiring little girl and it’s what she would have wanted <3
Brittany Dixon says
I’m sending you so much love as you enter another holiday season without your niece. I hope you are able to honor her by finding the joy and gratitude in moments with your family. Sending a big hug your way. Thanks for your comment <3
Erin says
Love this post and really admire your openness in writing. I’ve had a challenging year so I need these reminders to look for the good and be grateful in this season of my life. Whatever you’re experiencing, I’m sending hugs your way! 🙂 Your blog is one of my favorites!
Jessica Yoshida says
It has taken me so many years to be grateful for my life; it definitely didn’t come easy to me. But now that I’ve been practicing gratitude for some time now, it’s second nature.
This post definitely made me wonder if I am able to be grateful IN the moment and not just grateful FOR the things in my life. I would say, it’s not the easiest thing to do, to be grateful IN certain moments, but I guess I’ve been practicing this as well.
One thing I’m grateful for right now is sleep! My youngest is finally sleeping 12 hours at night 😉
I am a new follower and I am loving your blog!
Jessica