What does the act of thankfulness look like to a recovering “fixer” ?

Reality intersects our everyday sometimes like a sledgehammer to a metal surface. It can leave us shaky.

For the past year and a half, we have been on this moving “journey”.  I use that word very loosely.  Depending on the day – nightmare might seem more appropriate.

It has brought all our belongings to be containerized in some fashion. Boxes on shelves in a warehouse.  We have not seen them in about six months.  It is sometimes hard to remember what is in that many boxes.  I am most certain that when we get them back and unpack – many will go to the thrift store. Why did we ever have them?

Have you ever done this? Packed something away? Forgot about it…put it on a shelf to deal with later?

Life hands us some of these “boxes” we pack away – hoping to never see or deal with the “stuff” again.  That is when reality can hit you like a sledgehammer.

This is hard for a recovering fixer.

Over the summer my aunt passed away.  It was a hard struggle to bear.  Death sometimes unpacks boxes we thought would stay hidden forever.  This is a story to unfold later. It is not yet ready to be unpacked.  This one will require the kindness of others to talk through, cry through, and mourn the could-have-beens, should-have-beens, and “what ifs”.

To rest in the silence and knowing that I cannot fix the circumstance or the story.  It was not my story to narrate.

In December we will start a new series here on the blog called, “What If”.  It is the new story. Not the lamenting of the could-have-beens or should-have-beens.

What if we can do better? Live better? Love better?

This next week, we challenge you to show how to be thankful in our everyday relationships.  Thankful in both the easy ones and those that challenge us.   Thankful to have a diverse circle of opinions, life experience, and interests.  Yet love each other.

Love.

A simple word for a complex emotion.   As we look at relationships this week, I am thankful for those that joined us on the journey of thankfulness this month.  Let’s take it to the next level in December.  Finish strong.

Share, invite your friends.

Here at Embrace the Crazy we operate under these beliefs:

1. Assumptions

We believe that most offense come from the unspoken thoughts in our heads. Assuming what others intentions, thoughts, and actions could mean can be the first end to any relationship. We challenge you to instead ASK questions. We all interpret based on our life filters.

2. Comparisons

We believe we are imperfect humans. Striving daily to make one more right decision for ourselves, our families, our lives can move us on further on the path to our goals. Our goal is not stopped by OTHERS success. There is plenty to celebrate about each other. We embrace the crazy differences.

3. Judgements

Unless you are an actual judge, give grace. Asking questions and encouraging words go further than casting judgement on others. Ain’t no one got time for that….enough said.

Remember to share with us on Facebook and Twitter this week.  Let us focus on the relationships and embrace the crazy of all our diversity!