Grateful for... Four Years

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. ~~ Viktor E. Frankl

Living today. Grateful for...many things. Two months ago, we all entered into a world of uncertainty. A world filled with a growing number of struggles that we are all facing. We are dealing with sadness and grief. We are experiencing loneliness as we have been social distancing from those around us in order to protect them and ourselves. We are disappointed by the numerous events that we planned that have been canceled, both in the last couple of months and upcoming as we approach summer. And this is only a small portion of the common struggles that we are facing. 

On April 3rd, I published a post #stayhome, I was angry, frustrated. All over social media, people were sharing their frustration and disappointment over events that had already been canceled. Events they had been looking forward to, either for themselves or loved ones. I was angry. Events. Canceled. Not Lives.  Since then I have realized, their frustration and disappointment are grief. Grief comes in all shapes and sizes. Grief over small things. Grief over large things. Grief over canceled events. Grief over control.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. ~~Viktor E. Frankl

Grateful. Warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful. Expressing or actuated by gratitude. Pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing.

Today, I am grateful for the rain. Today, I am grateful for each and every moment to live, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Today, I am grateful for my superheroes. Today, I am grateful for Brian, Becca, and Ian ז״ל.

Four years ago. May 8, 2016. A day we dreamed of. A day, many times, we didn't know how we would celebrate. And celebration it was and for that I am grateful. It is a day that we will forever hold in our hearts, as no one can take away what is in our hearts. Today, I am grateful; grateful for each and every day.