Have you had one of those situations where a sudden turn of events blindsided you?
Your situation hopefully had a happy ending.
You may realize that it was a close call and you feel gratitude.
Last Sunday, I texted my daughter who has just moved to a new apartment in the city. She didn’t reply and I texted her again on Sunday and then again on Monday. I was beginning to get concerned.
She called back asking if I had seen her email. I found it and she explained that she had been at a friend’s apartment. Someone in the living room happened to look out the window and noticed flames coming from the apartment below.
She and her friends all left quickly, pounding on all the doors of the building. One friend helped the elderly women who lived in the building get out safely.
What they thought was a small kitchen fire that would be extinguished within a few minutes turned into much more.
Within 15 minutes the entire building was engulfed in a 4 alarm fire. Flames were shooting out of every window. The building was demolished.
Thankfully the residents were not hurt, although unfortunately a couple of the fireman suffered some injuries.
My daughter’s friend lost everything that was contained in the apartment. My daughter only lost her purse with all the basic essentials of life, keys, wallet, and drivers’s license.
What is most important is that they are safe and unharmed.
When these types of close calls happen, I have a hard time not going to that place of the “what-if.”
Again I’ve been reminded how precious life really is. How important it is to remember that while a life can take decades in the making, it can be extinguished in a moment.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
What I’ve realized is the things I worry about most, rarely happen. On a handful of occasions during my life, I’ve been jolted by a turn of events that I never expected. Gratitude is what I think about at the end of those days.
Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~ Marcel Proust
Living a life of gratitude will make you feel happier. You can even feel grateful for those moments of crisis in your life. Gratitude turns bad things into good. It reminds you of what is important and it encourages you to say thank you to other people.
Here are some ways to feel gratitude today:
- Every experience is a gift. Even if you feel confused or troubled, know that every event in your life can offer a gift. Look at the every situation with eyes of gratitude. It may be really an opportunity to grow and be creative. You are now stronger for what you have been through.
- Our greatest weaknesses can often prove to be our greatest strengths. They provide us with opportunity for growth that we would never have had otherwise. Everything about you can be used for good. When we feel unsure, it is a signal that there is something that we can learn.
- Growth can occur during times of crisis. Although we wish that life would go along peacefully, there are often bumps in the road. The Chinese word for crisis is written with two brush strokes. The first represents danger, and the second represents opportunity.
- When you are feeling fear, take a moment and notice the growth in your life. Instead of letting fear stop you in your tracks, look back and be grateful for how much progress you have made. Know the joy of gratitude. Feel the strength of your growth.
- Notice the miracles that have touched your life. They may have always been there, but now you can take notice. Become aware of the many gifts of your life by practicing gratitude. Be thankful for the little things as well as the big ones.
- Be grateful for the people in your life. Enjoy and spread the love. Acknowledge those close to you, and tell them often how much you appreciate and love them. We can learn something from every person we meet.
- Express your gratitude when others do something for you. That simple act can make a difference in your life as well as that person’s life. Take a moment out of your day to say thank you. It costs little and will spread happiness.
I am once again reminded about how grateful I am for my life and the people in it. I am waking up to another beautiful day. The sun is shining and all is well with my world.
Here is a beautiful poem of thankfulness to leave you with:
Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown
How about you? What are you grateful for? Has your family had any close calls, that pushed gratitude to the forefront of your thoughts? Please share in comments.
Oh my gosh — thank goodness your daughter and her friend are alright and no one was seriously hurt. And the way you’ve shared so many, many important messages about gratitude is wonderful. I especially liked: “every experience is a gift,” “The Chinese word for crisis is written with two brush strokes. The first represents danger, and the second represents opportunity,” and the poem. Thanks so much, Cathy!
Hi Lisa,
We are very fortunate that it turned out well. When these types of things occur, gratitude does come to mind. Thanks for your kind words.
Oooh, I am so glad the residents were unhurt. But I also fee sad about the things those people lost. I know what you mean about going the “what-if” route. Compared to the possibilities, feeling thankful is the only way to start coping!
I loved the poem, Cathy. Especially the lines
“Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?”
Just wonderful. Thank you for sharing. Hugs! Have a great day.
Love, Vidya
Hi Vidya,
That must be a very difficult feeling to have lost everything. I’ve never been in a situation like that before, but it does make your priorities clear very quickly. As any mom would be, I’m just grateful everyone was safe. Take care.
Cathy,
I’m so glad to hear that you daughter and everyone was alright.
It is times like these that we realize how much we have to be grateful for.
Hi Angela,
Yes, it is a time to be grateful. It’s those close calls in life that often give us that needed jolt in case we were sleepwalking through life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cathy,
This is one of my favorite post you’ve written. Gratitude is a big part of my life. Anytime I’m having some troubles, I practice gratitude and find my life is changed. Love everything you wrote and love the poem you’ve added, too.
Thanks for the reminders and glad your daughter is OK!
Hi Betsy,
I agree, when things aren’t going well, if we can all just take a moment and be grateful for what we do have, it can change our outlook. Writing down a few things each day has helped me as well. Thanks for sharing!
Cathy,
I’m so, so glad that your daughter and everyone else is okay. I’m sorry about the firefighters, but at least everyone made it out. Wow. It’s so true that times like these especially make us realize how much we have to be grateful for. Beautiful poem, too.
Hi Jodi,
We are all grateful that everyone made it out. I feel bad for the firefighters, but hopefully they will have a full recovery. Glad you enjoyed the poem. I thought it was perfect for this post. Take care.
I’m so happy to hear that no one got hurt
and I am very grateful that my gran is still alive
after her fall last week. Which left her with a
very bruised face. She’s a real battler at 95
🙂
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for your kind words and I’m glad your gran is doing better. Age 95, that is impressive! Good for her.
I am glad you and yours are okay.
As I continue to read your blog I can see that you are blessed. It is apparent to me that good things continue to happen to you…and that is pretty cool. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of the ride.
Hi Todd,
So glad to have made your connection. I’m glad to have you sharing and contributing to Treatment Talk.
Take care.
So glad to hear everyone was fine but what a shock for you all at the time. It’s amazing how a day can start off so routinely and then an incident changes things dramatically. I love all your points about feeling gratitude Cathy, especially “Our greatest weaknesses can often prove to be our greatest strengths,” because I believe I find my own strength through my weakness.
Today, I am truly grateful!
Hi Carolyn,
It does serve as a reminder to appreciate each person and each moment in your life. I like that one as well. I do believe that those who have fought through their demons stand proud as pillars of strength. I believe as well that my challenges have only helped me grow into a stronger person.
Cathy-I am so glad everyone is ok. I know you must be grateful that your daughter is safe. Life is so precious.
Thank you for your post on gratitude. It is a wonderful reminder everyday.
XOX Karen
Hi Karen,
I am grateful as well. These kind of situations are always great reminders aren’t they? Thanks for stopping by.
Cathy,
Thanks for the poem and thanks for being you. I appreciate all the work you put into your blog and helping others. Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday!
Hi Tess,
Happy Mother’s Day to you as well!!
Such a beautiful and powerful message!
I’m happy to hear your daughter is okay!! Close calls do jolt us into gratitude.
loved your 7 points about gratitude and the poem. It’s easy to feel grateful when things are going well, but it can help tremendously when we move deeply into gratitude when things aren’t going so well – it’s the magic that can bring us out from inner darkness.
Life can change in the blink of an eye. Your daughter was smart to recognize the danger, and courageous to warn people and help people get out safely. So true that our priorities are snapped into alignment when something like this occurs. And gratitude abounds.
“Our greatest weaknesses can often prove to be our greatest strengths. ”
That is so true!! I loved it!!
Thanks God, they were all safe!
Cathy, so many of the items you mention are easy to take for granted. Many times we simply forget to thank people for the things they do for us. But it makes a huge difference to the people who have helped us. Similar to acknowledging the people in our lives. So easy to forget but can make such an impact. Thanks for the reminder to include gratitude into our daily lives.
Hi Cathy,
Firstly I wanted to say I’m really glad to hear your daughter and her friend are safe.
I thought this was an amazing post on gratitude.
I would like to express gratitude for a number of points you made in your post. In particular, I appreciate in you writing about the Chinese word for crisis and how the first part represents danger, and the second represents opportunity.
Language has a powerful impact on the way we feel and this goes to show how one word in English (crisis) could end up creating all kinds of worry in us, whereas the same word used in Chinese would create a sense of optimism or possibility as well.
Hi Hiten,
Thank you for your kind words. It is interesting how that slight change in wording can make such a difference. We all do tend to interpret things differently because of our upbringing. It does drive home the point that with any negative situation there is a silver lining if you are open to look for it. Thanks for your comment!
Love your post and quotes on gratitude. I started a blog, http://www.sharingthanks.blogspot.com where I share four things I am grateful everyday. This has helped me develop stronger coping skills. It has also helped me focus on the positive aspects of my day and has trained my brain to look for and appreciate the positive in everyday situations. I feel it makes me more present to enjoy the small joys of the day.
Hi Linda,
That is so wonderful that you started a blog on gratitude. It does basically make us happier to look for what we have in our life, rather than what we don’t have. Thank you for sharing your link. I will go over and check it out! Take care.
A powerful story, well-told. How many times each of us comes close to being lost from this world, and survives. What a close call! Glad for your daughter and you, that only a purse was lost. Sorry for the friend. Losing your possessions is devastating. I appreciate your gratitude practice. It is the highest form of prayer and solace.
Thanks for finding my blog, I hope to visit yours when I can. Moving has me a bit preoccupied, right now!
Smitty
Hi Smitty,
Good luck on your move. That is always all consuming. Gratitude does help me get through my day. The constant reminders are a blessing. Thank you for stopping by. Take care.
Just between us, I thought you should know the gratitude quote… “if the only prayer you ever said was thank you…” is not Oprah’s. The author predates Oprah. His name was Meister Eckhart. (spelling might need checking…)
Hi Victoria,
Thank you for pointing that out. I noticed that too. “If the only prayer you say in your life is “thank you,” that would suffice.”
is the quote from Meister Eckhart Oprah’s quote is “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” Oprah Winfrey is just slightly different. I would imagine she was influenced by the quote from Meister Eckhart. Take care.
Wonderful blog Cathy this is great and interesting <3
Even during the toughest times of your life, there is still a myriad of reasons for you to be grateful. Gratitude is a way for one to have contentment in life— appreciating the little things that nurture your life. You may also check my blog Reasons Be Grateful Every Day
Thanks,
Cheers
Doris