As we boarded our plane, my eyes gravitated toward the front seat. A young woman, with black horn-rimmed glasses, reddish blonde hair looked down, aware of the stares she might receive as people scurried to find an open seat. My daughter noticed first. “Momma, where are her legs?” she asked as we landed in on our seats. “They didn’t grow properly, honey, so she has to lay on her stomach and use a wheelchair to help move.” The plane lurched forward and our conversation stopped momentarily.
When we landed, we intersected again with the same woman. An airline worker pushed her wheelchair, while she laid on her stomach, her gaze focused on the front. I saw her smile at the older couple who waited for her. As we passed them, I heard her zealous greeting and the genuine tone in her words, “I am so glad to see you.”
I held that image in my mind as I walked to baggage claim. Under my breath, I murmured,what I witnessed is gratitude. It is about appreciating wholly what you have without the want of anything else. It is sinking into the texture of the moment, without wishing it away. Gratitude is just that, knowing that it is a privilege to experience the montage of your passage through time. Some of those experiences may circle around happiness or sadness or loss or learning or joy or boredom. But that’s just it. All of it is only yours.
During Thanksgiving, I am circling back to my childhood playground, spending time with those that I love the most. The aura of giving thanks tends to shine brighter during Thanksgiving, but it is a practice I try to incorporate in my daily life. Some days are harder than others, but the intention is to feel that magnetic pull of appreciating the grace that exists in my ordinary days.
“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” — Seneca
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Submerge yourself in the gratitude of the moment.
Lovely. Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving .
Beautiful and such a great intention for every day. I try, too. I don’t like for tragedies to always be the reminder.
Happy Thanksgiving, Rudri. xo
Yes. “appreciating the grace that exists in my ordinary days.” Love this. Have a beautiful day.
“Gratitude is just that, knowing that it is a privilege to experience the montage of your passage through time. Some of those experiences may circle around happiness or sadness or loss or learning or joy or boredom. But that’s just it. All of it is only yours.” Wow. I’m sorry to paste such a long excerpt, but every word of those few lines hit me very powerfully. What an insightful, important realization. I love how you characterize gratitude, and it will stay with me for a while, hopefully inspiring me to feel grateful for all of it, every day. Thank you, Rudri, and happy thanksgiving to you!
Oh, such truth. That quote is perfect and your words are the reminder I need this morning. Thank you. xoxo
Beautiful quote in the end – it really resonates with me because that’s something I’ve been working on: being more grateful and satisfied with what I have. There’s so much focus on what we don’t have and our wants we forget to appreciate what is already there. Especially with Black Friday, people are just out buying.. I’m avoiding that since there’s nothing I need so it’s best to avoid temptation! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday Rudri! -Iva
Happy Thanksgiving, Rudri. I love the ending quote.