Perspective and Gratitude

"Any moment that opens us up to the reality that life is good is a parable of the supreme end for which we were made."
— Lewis B. Smedes, How Can It Be All Right When Everything Is All Wrong?

This morning I left the house in a huff, overwhelmed with some of my perceived Holiday to-dos and annoyed by life's little melodramas. On the way to work I listened to the news which can be a little bleak these days, it got me thinking about those who might be going through tough times this Christmas: the person who just lost his job and might be wondering how he's going to pay his mortgage or put gifts under the tree; the person whose daughter, only in her twenties, just got diagnosed with cancer; the person grieving the death of a loved one, or the loss of a relationship.

I don't have it so bad. In fact, I have it really good; I think I needed a little perspective to remind me just how good.

I'll most likely get cranky again and I'll most likely get annoyed and overwhelmed, but I hope I'll have the presence and strength to stop and count my blessings instead of letting myself spiral into an unwarranted negative funk. 'Cause really, I've nothing to spiral about.

Word(s) of the day: ego, awakening, empathy, others, abundance, perspective, gratitude, thanks