What if it Hurts to be Thankful?
There is a unique tension in the celebration of Thanksgiving, giving thanks or gratitude. Life is filled with experiences that may leave us feeling less than thankful or grateful.
What do we do with Thanksgiving, if we are in the thick of deep pain?
At this very moment I have people dear to me going through the loss of a long-term marriage, the loss of a parent and the loss of a child. Each one of these stories is complex and will take significant time and effort to navigate.
At this very moment there are people reeling from fires, storms and wars.
There are also deeply painful experiences that may not come with a tangible loss. They may be subtle and unspeakable. I’m talking about abuse, neglect, betrayal, rejection and poverty. These experiences can leave us feeling disoriented and confused.
What if growing into the new version of ourselves, a metamorphosis of sorts, requires that we find a way to hold both pain and gratitude at the same time? This week I am going to share some of my thoughts about this. If you or someone you know is experiencing some form of pain right now, I hope you’ll share and follow along.
