We all agree that 2020 has been a doozy… It snuck up on us like a wild tiger (sorry, you’d have to know Hudson to get this reference) and the strongest, most resilient and optimistic of us have reached levels of fear, sadness, anxiety, and ultimately discontentment with our current situation that have been foreign to us up until now. As we begin to close out this year and go on to celebrate Thanksgiving, I remind myself that the antidote to our discouragement and discontentment is just that – thanksgiving, or gratitude.

The phrase ‘count your blessings’ comes to mind, and while I know it’s not about literally counting them, my brain automatically goes to try and create a long list of the things I am thankful for. However, it’s not even about a list. The objective is not for the blessings to outweigh the … crap that we’ve had to deal with. Recognizing and acknowledging even one positive thing, one person that makes our life better, one relationship that we cherish, and so on, has the power to shift our perspective and in result, the way we feel about life, currently. I think that’s what Thanksgiving is actually about – putting life in perspective, or back in perspective. The thing is, in the world we live in, we cannot afford to celebrate only one Thanksgiving. It needs to happen daily for us to press on and not lose hope. So just as I’ve done for the past few months, today, some of the things I will celebrate gratitude for:

- My daughter Anniston, who despite having a 25% chance of being born with a serious genetic disease is perfectly healthy and beautiful.

- The amazing way she came into this world in the midst of the pandemic

- My body… which is literally sustaining another life and is a monkey gym for another  - it gives life and joy despite of not looking or feeling the way I’d want it to RIGHT NOW.

- My husband, who is the most supportive and loving partner despite of being pulled in a thousand directions; who will not rest until he figures things out – which he always does. And who cares about people deeper than anyone I’ve ever met.

Wade – “you’re simply the best” (guys you have to watch Shitt’s Creek if you haven’t)

- Going through COVID as a family and … being alive and well.

- My EXTRAORDINARY Hudson – who can be seen as a ‘handful’, but who is the sweetest, the most genuine and affectionate little boy ever. He’s also ‘simply the best.’ Who’s teaching me to be a better mom every day (He seriously took me through some deep breathing the other day when he saw me get stressed out). Also, the fact that he’s strong and healthy as he had the same chance of developing the genetic condition as Anni.

I could go on, but I hope that this paints the picture. Every one of my gratitude points stems from a negative one. Or is it the other way around…? The negative breeds anxiety, fear, depression, discontentment.

The positive breeds gratitude and thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving Precision Community!

Jojo ;)

Gratitude