Season of Gratitude

 

It is a beautiful Fall Sunday and I am enjoying the couch, the blanket on my legs and my puppy that lies in the crease of my legs.  I took a minute to pick up the latest issue of “O” magazine (November 2018 Volume 19, Number 11). It is always such a treat to take a quiet moment and read the great articles and to find nuggets of inspiration that have the ability to enhance my life.

There was an article on Gratitude and it was the best I have ever read.  The practice of Gratitude is one that I live by. When the family sits around the table for dinner, I always ask, “What are you grateful for TODAY?”  I can see my girl’s eyes rolling ;o). I am not looking for the infamous answer of “my family” but looking for what in their day, TODAY, brought a true sense of gratitude.  Sometimes, it is a nice, crisp Diet Pepsi or the wonderful comfort food that Annie’s Mac and Cheese delivers. It can also be the little things that sometimes go unnoticed unless we have time to reflect.  Maybe your schedule went so smoothly at the office, or a nice compliment you received, or a new friend or connection you made, etc …

In Oprah’s article, the titles were, “Dear broken ankle,” “Dear tax auditor,” and “Dear Chunky” (a dog ;o).  They are great stories of not so great things that happened to people and the good that came out of each. In turn, they are completely grateful for the challenges in their lives.  You will have to pick up a copy to learn more about how a Tax Auditor turned a mom’s life around … and no, she didn’t fall in love.

What have you been faced with that turned out to be a good thing and that you are actually grateful for?  For me, it is MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Jim, my “Was-been,” was diagnosed with MS two years after marriage.  It rocked our life little by little, year by year. However, had we not been graced with MS, Pacific Perks Coffee, LLC would literally never have existed!  Because of the challenges of MS for Jim and the family, we would not have looked for another way for our family to provide for itself.  We needed to take control of how we worked and to create balance, flexibility and income. I am full of gratitude for the opportunity MS created for us.  After 11 years in business, we have 25 employees, 4 locations, and serve over 2000 clients a year.

What are you grateful for, outside your family and friends? What adversity have you gone through that you would never take back?  What did adversity bring to your life? We have all had adversity and challenges in life. I truly believe that there is a silver lining in every one of those!  We just need to sometimes take a moment to realize what it is. I would love to hear your stories! If you are willing to share them, please do; I truly mean that. I’m all ears at natalie@pacificperkscoffee.com

Just like the BIG things, take notice of the little things that fill you with gratitude from day to day.  Today, my heart feels full – and for that I am grateful. Today I am not living in the future and in fear.  Today I feel like I can conquer the world. I know that not every day will be like this. Tomorrow I might be fighting the “asshole in my head.”  But today I feel whole. That is something to feel grateful for. The weather, coffee with a friend, getting in my yard, a trip to Costco without rushing, my house to myself, seeing my girls, and my love for Eric (my man)… so many things.

It is easy to think of so many things to be grateful for when you are feeling great and much harder when you are not your best self.  Last Friday night, Eric noticed that I was complaining a lot (I was cold, bummed I had to work the next day, blah, blah, blah). He stopped me and said, “name three things you’re grateful for.”  I wasn’t in the mood to do it, but since he was using something that I do to him, I had to play along. They weren’t spectacular things, but I was able to think of at least three things. I think they were 1) it is not raining, 2) I get to see the girls dance at the halftime show, and 3) Eric (he helped me with that one by pointing at himself – LOL).

Making it a daily practice helps us all be grateful when things aren’t going our way.  No matter what, there is ALWAYS something to be grateful for. I am not the master of this, but I am writing to you because I think it is important enough to share.  

 

With a Grateful Heart,

Natalie Fairchild

Owner/Founder

Pacific Perks Coffee, LLC

natalie@pacificperkscoffee.com

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