Not your usual gratitude list
November is traditionally a month of gratitude in the United States, culminating in Thanksgiving Day. Many people take advantage of this time to share publicly the things for which they are grateful. I have historically done the same with my blog, and this year is no exception…but it will be a little different.
Blessings in disguise
Rather than sharing my typical, easy-to-recognize gratitude-inspiring items, I’m going to share with you a couple of things that originally seemed like negatives that I now see were blessings in disguise.
Growing up with limited financial means
I was going to say growing up poor, but what exactly is “poor?” We always had a roof over our heads and food on the table, but those basics were often provided by, or supplemented with help from our church or my grandparents. I always received birthday and Christmas gifts and a beginning-of-the-school-year outfit, but there were seldom new things in between and expensive brand names were not an option. Vacations were road trips to Idaho to stay with relatives, and if I wanted to go to a movie or out with friends, I relied on my babysitting money.
While I may have been a little jealous of my friends with fancier things and more opportunities for entertainment, I developed a sense of responsibility and self-reliance. As I moved out of the family home and on to independence, I had no expectation that my parents would bail me out, so I made responsible financial decisions. I also found that as I began to make more money and could afford to do and have more, I truly appreciated those things. Middle class felt wealthy to me! Today I live debt-free (outside of a soon-to-be-paid-off mortgage on our second home) and with money in the bank…a luxury I couldn’t have imagined in my childhood and may not have appreciated without my childhood.
A curvy figure and my young desire to be model-thin
While there are certainly mental health challenges related to body-image issues, the good news is my desire to be thinner led me to physical fitness and better nutrition, which ultimately benefited my physical and mental well-being.
I want to be clear here that I am not encouraging the body-image issues that are so common in our society. I’m just saying that I worked through those and am now recognizing the silver lining. I do not believe that a desire for future health would have inspired me to develop an exercise habit or nutritional awareness as soon as wanting to shape my body did.
Another benefit of my propensity to gain weight if left to my own devices was finding Weight Watchers (now WW), where I learned more about healthy habits, met some great people, and was given the opportunity to be a meeting leader…which helped me step outside of my comfort zone and develop teaching and public speaking skills.
Being passed over for a promotion
No one likes to be rejected in favor of someone else, and I admit my self-esteem took a hit at the time, but I can now honestly say that I am glad I didn’t get that job. First of all, I believe the person who did was better suited for the position and led the company in a way that provided me with secure employment for the remainder of my career.
Also not getting the promotion turned my attention from constantly climbing the corporate ladder to self-reflection about what I wanted in life and ultimately led me to early retirement…which I have not regretted for one minute.
Unanswered prayers
Sometimes the Universe knows what we need better than we do. Does anyone remember the Garth Brooks’ song, Unanswered Prayers? Perhaps the things that feel like unanswered prayers or roadblocks are actually redirections to richer blessings.
Your turn
- What is something you are grateful for today that seemed like a problem or a disappointment originally?
- Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? If so, how?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
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Image by Susanne Jutzeler, Schweiz, from Pixabay
What is something you are grateful for today that seemed like a problem or a disappointment originally? I grew up when wearing eyeglasses was considered ugly so I hated that I had to have them. I tried contacts but they didn’t really work for me, thus I wore spectacles all the time. Now glasses are in, actually cute, and I feel like I lead the way. That I’ve been vindicated!
Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? If so, how? We’re celebrating Thanksgiving, but it’ll be the two us here at home this year. We’re making a turkey breast with all the trimmings, but truthfully I’m not big on this traditional meal so it’s mostly for my husband. Except the mashed taters, I love them.
Happy Thanksgiving!
You are a trendsetter, Ally! Now some people wear glasses with clear lenses just for the fashion.
This year, my husband and I are having Thanksgiving with our daughter and family–with a choice of turkey or brisket (or more likely both). Some years, when my husband and I have been on our own, we have stayed at the Grand America and eaten a gourmet dinner in our room with a view. Both options are pretty wonderful. And yes to the mashed potatoes! Happy Thanksgiving!
1. I found it very difficult to get a job to match my qualifications when my children were young. There was a recession and a lot of unemployment. I found a part time job as a care worker and rather to my suprise I found I was good at it. The hospital where I was working offered to sponsor me for nurse training and I was able to return to university. Ultimately it led to a well-paid and fulfilling career just not the one I had been expecting.
2. I am English and no we do not celebrate thanksgiving. But happy thanksgiving to those people who are celebrating this weekend.
I love this example, Anne, of a struggle leading you to a satisfying career that you otherwise wouldn’t have considered. May you have a lovely week full of gratitude.
Hi, Christie – This is an awesome (and very insightful) Gratitute List. I too am grateful that I did not always receive what I thought I wanted at the time. The Universe truly does know best!
Thank you, Donna. As I recall, you’ve already had your Thanksgiving, so I won’t say Happy Thanksgiving, but I do wish you a lovely and gratitude-filled week.
I love your take on gratitude, Christie! Many blessings don’t always look that way at first. A cancer diagnosis when I was young prompted me to look at life differently. I had been working crazy hours for not a lot of personal benefit. All of a sudden, I had to slow down and decide what was most important. I also fully realized the importance of friends and family.
Thanksgiving will be a quiet one this year and that suits us just fine. We are having gorgeous weather and I am grateful not to have to travel this time of year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Thank you for sharing your blessing in disguise, Janis. That’s a big one for sure. Not an easy lesson, but certainly worthwhile.
Enjoy your quiet Thanksgiving!
Oh Christie I could SO relate to this – the appreciation of being financially secure after many years of living close to the line. That choosing to be frugal and to save has led me to being debt free and able to retire early is a blessing I count every day. Also the job thing – having my old job get so toxic that I was forced to leave made me step out of my comfort zone and prioritze myself – and taught me to value what I bring to the table. During that time I went to an i/view for another job and didn’t like the vibes (too similar to the toxic one I was in). I emailed to say thanks but I didn’t want to proceed. The girl who got the job lasted 6 weeks – so I definitely dodged a bullet. Blessings in disguise have punctuated my life and brought me so much growth and gratitude – thanks for reminding me 🙂
It’s nice to be on this end of those lessons, isn’t it, Leanne? I know that life will throw more “blessings in disguise” at us, but hopefully we can see them in a different light, having learned from these previous experiences. I hope you enjoy a gratitude-filled week!
Christie, I adore that song (Unanswered Prayers) and totally relate to it. I dated a boy in college that I thought I would marry (totally in love, obsessed?) and he rejected me. It took me years (literally) to get over it but now, yeah, I am really glad God had another plan for me. I look back at various life choices, forks in the road taken, and cannot regret any of them (even though some were hard at the time) because I am very happy where life is right now.
We were invited to join a group of friends for Thanksgiving dinner. Actually had 2 invites – 2 different groups – both recognizing many folks here are not physically close to family My intentional connection work has definitely “paid off”. In fact, I’ve had comments from a couple of people about how I “jumped in with both feet” into club activities and making connections. [When I get stressed about life, I need to recall those positive comments.]
Happy Thanksgiving!
I feel the same way, Pat. Life’s twists and turns have been challenging, but they have also made us who we are and brought us to where we are now…which sounds like is pretty good for both of us.
Not a bad choice to have…two Thanksgiving invitations. I have been impressed by your intentional efforts at connecting. I am trying to learn from you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Christie, as ever your questions provide me food for thought. To prevent myself overthinking too much (‘cos is there ever a lot of potential for that) I thought I’d offer these which – for some weird reason – came to mind today.
I was told I’d have to self-inject (into my stomach) immediately after knee surgery, indeed for a period of 14 days in total. I have long had a problem with syringes and avoid looking at them. But, by utilising some tools learned in my professional training, I was able to do it with only a tiny amount of bruising. Knowing that my tools worked made me confident to set up a business as a Life Coach using them.
I hope you had a most Happy Thanksgiving yesterday.
I love that example, Debs. Isn’t it great when a lesson from one area of our lives transfers into another?
I did have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope you did as well.
When I first read this I could not immediately think of any personal examples. Then after pondering I thought of two really good ones. When Hannah was in college she was told she had a detached retina and that she should have it repaired right away. The eye specialist found she actually had a cancerous tumor on her eye that had to be destroyed with radiation. I’m so grateful she found it when she did and did not have to lose her eye, or life.
Also, when I got pregnant with Eric it was not under ideal circumstances, however he is one of the biggest joys of my life!
Thanks for making me think about and appreciate these blessings! ?
These are really good examples, Cindy. I couldn’t imagine life without Eric and Hannah either. So much to be grateful for!