Grateful Heart part 5

Even having a goal, I struggle with posting! However, I am here today, so that is good!

I have been thinking about how grateful I am for the experiences I have had in my life-especially the ones that are catalysts for growth. Some of the hardest times in life reap the greatest rewards, even though it may be years before we realize the growth, knowledge, and experience we have truly gained from the experience.

I think of a time I went through when I was 21. It was one of the hardest experiences I had had to that point in my life. I know that I learned things at that time that helped me, and I became a better person because of it. However, it wasn't until 5 years later that I realized the importance of the experience, and truly appreciated the growth I had, because of one experience I had when I was 26. I would not trade the experience I had at 21 for the one at 26.

I think it is a great blessing to recognize specific reasons for experiences we have had, and it is awesome when we recognize it more than once. Our experiences are generally not a one time learning experience. We get to take the knowledge and growth with us throughout life, and help us as we face difficult times, or as we help other people.

I am grateful for the processes, for growth spurts, and for the ability to recognize all of it, and to truly appreciate it all.

A Grateful Heart part 4

I have been thinking about how grateful I am for lessons learned through witnessing small moments of human interaction.

When people are conversing, connecting, or communing with each other, there is great power in observing their interactions. I absolutely love people watching. It is amazing to see people when they don't think others are paying attention or watching. Most of the time I learn positive things about others, and sometimes it's lessons of things I don't want to do or ways not to be.

It's interesting, because I made a note of an interaction from over a year ago, wanting to remember and share it when I had the chance, and here is that chance!

I was at church when two gentlemen caught my eye. One of them had lost his wife a number of months prior, and the other had very recently lost his wife. These men had been married to their wives for decades, and it was plain to see how much they had each loved their wife. The Sunday that stood out to me was a normal day, with the congregation gathering to worship. It caught my eye that these two men were sitting together, supporting each other, and sharing the burden of being widowed.

My heart ached for them, but also burned with the learning of the power of human connection and interaction. I don't think that there were any specific words shared, but the simple act of sitting together seemed to strengthen and buoy each of them. It was brotherhood in action and it was beautiful.

So, my gratitude for the day is the lessons learned, great and small, through observation of the human experience.