Practicing Gratitude
Life may begin at 40, but so does deterioration. I haven't worn glasses since college, when I was doing way more reading than anyone should have to do in a day. Now I need glasses to read the laundry instructions on my clothes' tags. I can't even see how many dots are in that tee-tiny washing machine symbol. And don't even get me started on manly chin hairs. They grow overnight! I was talking to my mom and heard myself saying, "At least they are on my chin and not my upper lip. And they are very light; they could be black." Yep, it could be worse. I could have to put glasses on to be able to see black mustache hairs.
Practicing gratitude--being thankful for what I do have while making a concerted effort to not focus on what I don't have. That doesn't come easily for me. A lot of times it doesn't come easily for our clients either. When your clients get down on life and their circumstances, what do you do to help them climb out of that pit?
When I worked with clients who had suffered burns, I'd schedule my adult clients to come to the gym alongside my pediatric clients. There's nothing like a visual of how bad it could be to help you be thankful.
What about co-workers, friends, spouses, and children? When they begin to complain, do you join in or do you turn the conversation around, focusing on the positive? When a co-worker whines about the boss, do you offer up one of your supervisor's good points for consideration? When your friends go on a spouse bashing spree, do you join in or do you talk about what a great spouse you have? Turning those conversations around can be uncomfortable, but they can also be an encouragement.
Perhaps I should have saved this post for Thanksgiving...but it'll be here before you know it--just like bifocals and those nasty chin hairs! What do you have to be thankful for--today? Share how you cultivate gratitude in your clients, co-workers, friends, and family.