Finding Gratitude

Gratitude isn't always about being grateful for the things you have. Sometimes, gratitude is about being grateful for the things you don't have even when you so badly desire it.

For me, I always wanted to be a mother and a wife. In fact, I never aspired to be independent and it's not because I wanted to be taken care of by a man, but I wanted to create a family of my own. However, as my life evolved I didn't have that option so I created this independent life full of personal and career goals. I'm 35 and never imagined my life to be what it is today. I swore by now that I would have had a family of my own, but I don't. Not even close.

When I was younger, it was difficult for me to accept that I wasn't in a relationship, I wasn't getting closer to finding the "one" and creating my family. It was hard for me to see everyone else around me, family and friends, progress in that area in their life while I stayed the same. It was sometimes even harder for me to be happy for the friends who never dreamed of being married and having children yet I found myself at their wedding.

What I've learned is that gratitude is not just about appreciating the things you have, but it is about being grateful about the things you don't have no matter how badly you want it.

Even though I wanted my own family, I didn't have it yet. Because I didn't have my own family, I've been free to do a lot of things that I may not have been able to do if I had the responsibility of a relationship or a child. While a lot of my friends have their forever person and children of their own, I have the freedom to pick up and leave when ever, where ever I want for whatever reason I want. I can spend my money on things for me, I can spend my time doing things for me, and I don't have to consider someone else in these factors of my life.

At some point that will change, but I have collected experiences in my 20s and 30s that I may not have otherwise if my circumstances were different. For that, I am very grateful. I look forward to the day where I can share my adventures with someone and create new ones with my family, but for now, I will continue to create stories to tell my future children and I will share these stories with a grateful heart.

To here more about how I found gratitude during difficult times, take a listen to my recent podcast episode on "The Breakthrough Room".

xo

Kristine