Who doesn’t love a good story?
I don’t know a soul who doesn’t get drawn into a well-told tale. I am so grateful for the stories I listened to carefully while growing up and for the wonder those stories created in me.
I am so grateful for the friends and family members I share my life with now and for the stories we share among ourselves. Stories come about as a result of how moments unfold on our journey through life. Some of those moments are sad, frightening and traumatic. Some are exuberant, joyful and unfathomably precious. Most people have a combination of stories that span from the saddest to the most thrilling of experiences.
Many people keep their stories hidden deep within their being thinking their life experiences won’t matter to others. They don’t feel they are worthy of being heard. These are the dear souls who on their deathbeds are looking for another living soul with whom to share their personal memories. I have discovered that being a receptive listener is a gift, not only to the person telling the story, but to myself as listener. It is a great privilege to be the recipient of such intimate story-telling.
There is so much to be grateful for in our lives.
It’s not the number of gifts we receive during a specific holiday or birthday. Nor is it the number of cards or texts we get in any given day. Finding gratitude in our hearts for the people we encounter daily, those who enrich our lives either on a routine basis, or by surprise is the greatest gift of all.
I so appreciate telling my friends, colleagues and family how grateful I am for their presence in my life. I enjoy times to reminisce with them and recall memories we’ve shared that meant so much to all of us. This time of year brings reflections to all of us. It is an occasion when family and friends come together to share love and life experiences. It is also the time of the year I recall people who have come into my life maybe just for a season. Gratitude finds a permanent place within my heart.
