An unexpected lesson in gratitude
Sometimes, lessons arrive from unexpected places. It happened to me, and I thought this story could help you. I was left feeling grateful and appreciative. More importantly, it’s something that has helped me improve my mental health and wellbeing pretty much every day afterwards.
If you don’t have audio, or prefer reading, I’ve included a transcript below:
I remember receiving a really important lesson in gratitude from a very unexpected source and I thought it would help to share it with you now. A couple of years ago, I was working from home. I was busy. Things weren't going well, I wasn't feeling good about things and I was up against it.
I heard a voice outside and it was a young child walking with his mum. I live in an area where people come on holiday in the summer, so a lot of people are walking by who are new to the area. It was very clear from the conversation that that was likely to be the case. I just heard this child say to his mum, ‘The people who live here can goto the park every day’. There was such excitement.
It was if it was the most incredible thing to that young child and yes, I live by a park but hadn't walked around there for a while. It was under an underpass. I had to walk to get to it and I’d got a bit complacent. It was one of the reasons I moved to the area though.
I just wasn't using it, and there I was in this downward mindset up against it and suddenly this voice just reminded me. Yes, I have a park next to me and if you've heard me talk before you know how important green and blue spaces are for wellbeing. This is an area that’s full of plants and it's by water. So win win.
I heard that and I thought yeah, I am lucky to live here and I'm lucky to have access to this park. So sure enough when work ended, I went around the park and it was a great experience. It was like I was revisiting everything, finding something for the first time and since then I’ve made it a regular thing.
It’s part of my wellbeing toolkit. I just needed that reminder.
So just have a think What do you need to be reminded of? If a child like that walked past your house, what would they get excited about? If they saw your life, what would they get excited about? Are you overlooking it?
Have a think. It could help. Thank you.