As my favorite holiday (Thanksgiving) approaches, my thoughts and feelings turn from what is lacking in my life to a focus on what I am grateful for. It is so easy to fall back on what is going wrong in our lives and in the lives of those in our communities and the nation. But if we really consider our own circumstances, we are Survivors and Thrivers. And we still have so much to be thankful for.
But we still have to ask…Is it even possible to feel grateful for a traumatic event that results in physical scars or even dismemberment which significantly changes the direction of our lives and destroys the goals and dreams we once had?
Researchers studying many individuals who have survived traumatic events began recording a profoundly interesting phenomena. Many individuals actually expressed a thankfulness that the event or experience actually occurred!
John O’Leary, who was burned over most of his body at an early age can agree that he is extremely grateful now that it occurred…even though he would not consider it something that he would ever want to experience it again. It has provided a direction for his life. We have summarized his amazing story this month in our Book Summaries section.
The Power of Gratitude knows no bounds. It stretches from the time we wake up in the morning until our heads hit the pillow at night each and every day. And expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving to others and to our Creator are available to all of us. It is our choice. We determine what we focus on and we control our response!
Please note that Website updates for November have been included on the following “Hanging on to Hope” web pages:
- Punchlines
Our cartoon characters, Hope and Harry and Simon and Specs are at it again…creating a few puns to consider as they address the phrases and idioms in the English language that we often use.
The section in Punchlines entitled “Hope and Humor” features a unique viewpoint with regard to relationships. Will Miller and Glenn Sparks collaborated on a book entitled Refrigerator Rights: Creating Connections and Restoring Relationships. If you’re wondering if you have ever granted refrigerator rights to other individuals, you might want to check this section out.
Our Book Summaries page includes brief summaries of
- Empower Your Gratitude: Overcome Your Scarcity Mindset and Build Limitless Abundance with the Joy of Living and the Power of Giving By Scott Allan … very appropriate to this season. And the second summary,
On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life by John O’Leary is expressing a definitely relevant addition to this month’s theme regarding gratitude and Thanksgiving. O’Leary also highlights our purpose in this world:
“Our purpose is the light that keeps us going through even the darkest tunnel. It allows us to hold on tight, even when it burns, even when it’s hard even when it hurts like hell.”
- John O’Leary. (2016). On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life. North Star Way / Simon and Schuster. New York, NY. page 80.
With love and respect to each of you as well as an acknowledgement that…
Adversity in life is NOT optional, but our response to it is! Hang on to Hope!
Happy Thanksgiving !
Gregory Charles Reynolds
November, 2021
Hanging on to Hope! 