When was the last time you were thankful for being you? How about the last time others acknowledged they’re grateful for you? Optimistically, it was recently, very recently.
I’m so happy you made it this far. Am I referring to the second paragraph of this blog? Or life in general? Ah, good question. What do you think? Does it matter? Well, since you’re here, in the blog, I’m curious what your reaction was to the title? Are you willing to entertain that you are worthy of being you? Are you ready to own it? Do you already own it?
For many with brain-based challenges, myself included, there are far too many moments, even days, when it’s difficult to acknowledge the gifts we radiate with each sunrise. Imagine by the act of simply opening your eyes as you awaken that you enrich the life of someone who loves and cares about you. Is your brain trying to refute that? Mine often does. Hopefully today’s a good day and you’re on board.
For sure, it’s not easy to reveal this about myself. Most of what my clients, prospective clients, readers, audience members describe to me takes great courage and vulnerability. Feelings of shame, embarrassment, short-comings, irritations, relationship woes, conditions in their home can cause visceral physical sensations and drum up emotional scars. If they can step up and declare their struggles, then so can I.
Ok, the difference may be that they’re doing so in what I hope they consider a safe, confidential space. I suppose that’s why they confess intimate details; otherwise, they wouldn’t open up. It never ceases to amaze me how much trust they place in me before we’ve even conversed. Laying bare, with articulate descriptions in the online intake form, ways they believe they’ve derailed or fallen short. The many situations in which they perceive that their brains or bodies have let them down. The more they do, the more in awe I am that their circumstances have led them to the point where baring it all is the least of their concerns.
During this month of Thanksgiving, I realized that through my many years of recitations of “thanks”, I never once thanked myself. Thanking my body for functioning each day even when functioning is a stretch. Thankful for the healing that has taken place after the many cuts, bruises, broken bones, twisted ankles, bacterial infections, and viruses. Thankful that this little body housed two babies and birthed them quickly, almost too quickly with relative ease.
That despite the wonkiness of my thoughts, short & long-term memory spasms, and ADHD symptoms, academically I managed to secure a Master’s Degree, start and operate my own thriving business, and pursue additional education endeavors. For those achievements, I acknowledge my gratitude. I’m doing so right here, publicly. No turning back now.
What about YOU are you grateful for? Write your reflections down if it helps. Draw pictures. Take photos. Use whatever form you wish to capture all the beautiful aspects of who you really are. This will be hard for some of you to conceive. Try challenging yourself to ask the special people in your life for some hints. What do they like, admire, love, appreciate, are thankful for about you? What is the difference that your presence has made in their life that possibly no one else has or could? You are you. No one else, even an identical twin, is exactly you. If nothing else, be thankful that you are unique in your own unique way. And as a reader; current, former, or prospective client; audience member; or simply someone who is inspired enough by my blogs to keep following them, I am TRULY grateful for you! You inspire me to keep The Practical Sort, my passion, going!
If you know someone hurting, someone who could use lift, feel free to share this blog with them to let them know you’re thankful for them being themselves. Imagine what it would be like if everyone embraced the gift that they are? It might make their day. It might save their life!
Thank you!
