Gratitude. The word itself instills judgment, curiosity, and dismissiveness.
From my experience, it is something very personal that we all need to own in our own best interest. Much like Love. Both words are weighty and, somewhat sadly, often misused. I will tackle that word, LOVE, another day!
So, I was 22 years old when I traveled from NZ to Switzerland to meet and get to know my father. My mother had traveled to NZ as a displaced person with us 2 children and we grew up initially under hostile conditions and luckily evolved to the best we could have ever hoped for.
Upon arriving in Switzerland, I was confronted by my father’s lifestyle which was a sharp contrast to the bootstrap existence I had experienced with Mother. Having graduated in humanities, I assumed the mantle of a brooding Hamlet, lol!
Dad’s wife, took me aside, having noticed my attitude, and talked of how my Dad this and that, how he evolved his life, and towards the end she said. I know it is hard for you to come into this circumstance, but you have a choice. You can reflect on your past and see the complexity of reconciling the two worlds, or you can be in the present, not forgetting the past but being grateful for the chances in front you you. She maintained this line for the three days we were alone traveling, and it sunk in. Of course, there was no way I would forget and honor my mother’s journey in bringing us to a fine point. But I had to see that the new surroundings offered me opportunities I could never have thought of in NZ. I settled into the reality of this with gratitude, created my opportunities, and purchased a rental property for my mother, so she had a secure pension plan. It was accepting with gratitude my new horizon and creating something for Mum that reminds me daily.
What is now, accept with gratitude and work with the positive, leaving the past in its respectful place but not as a badge to negate your life.
I am grateful I fell off my bike and was able to create our brand and now a line of Honey for Healing ® products.
Enjoy your journey,
Gjoko