5 Reasons We're Giving Thanks
It’s more than fitting to reflect today.
Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day or the deadlines that seem to never end. Or worrying about the blog posts that need to be written for tomorrow’s posting or the social media calendar that’s quickly gone from planned and pre-published to empty squares needing images and captions.
I hear ya! Most days, this is what my life looks like— getting through the actual work that pays the bills and then having more backend work to complete to continue moving the needle in the long game of social media, email newsletters and blog posts.
But today, more than ever, I’m taking a step back, taking a few deep breaths and reflecting on what I have to be thankful for in my life.
My Relationships
I’ve always been close to my family but over the last 3 years, I’ve found that I lean on them even more. I’ve learned that my family is probably closer than most (it’s just my parents and my older sister, which has expanded to include my brother-in-law and two little nephews). I so value the time we spend together and the memories and inside jokes we create. I’m incredibly grateful to have been born into the family I was… every single person is the type of person that would drop everything to help someone in need, go out of their way to make you feel appreciated and they’re all just all-around good people. I’ve had pretty amazing people to look up to as I grew up and still find myself admiring them for their ethics, hard work, kindness and, thoughtfulness.
This year officially brought more family into my life too! My husband and I had been together for over 6 years before getting married, so my in-laws were already like family to me. But… there’s something special about changing a title from “my boyfriend’s mom” to “my mother-in-law.” No change in relationship, but still wonderful to have these relationships honored in a new way!
My friends— though a small, but mighty group— have grown ever more important over the last 7 months since I launched Uncommon Collaborative. I was self-employed years ago, but this is different. It takes so much of my mental capacity and my time and I find that I don’t have much of myself leftover. These core friends accept that I’m in a stage of life where my work demands so much of me. They understand when I have to cancel last minute or have so much on my plate that I forget to text (or text back!) It’s not something I’m proud of, but these women are women I am proud and honored to call my friends.
—
My Health
This is one that’s so easy to take for granted… until you find yourself with a sore throat, congestion, and a pounding headache (which is ironically exactly what I’m battling as I type this…). To me, health isn’t just about colds. For me, I find myself forever in debt to not have been born with chronic disease or find myself with a life-threatening sickness. There are so many people that did nothing to bring such pain upon themselves and are struck with illness, weekly treatments, and explosive insurance bills.
Though I’ve struggled with mental illness (the same way many people have), I am incredibly grateful that I don’t have a mental illness that rules my life. Sure, I go through bouts of depression and experience anxiety fairly regularly, but for the most part, it doesn’t control my life and I’m able to combat it on my own and with the help of my support system.
—
My Clients
Without these amazing entrepreneurs, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I wouldn’t be able to wake up every single more excited to see what it holds! Without my clients, I would still be stuck in a soul-crushing job that spiraled me into a six-month depression and brought on anxiety attacks every time my phone would ring or buzz and it would be work on the other end.
Every day I am grateful for these people who trust me with their own livelihoods! It’s a pressure that I do not take lightly and continue to work every day to make sure I exceed their expectations!
—
My Work Ethic
I believe that entrepreneur life isn’t for everyone. This lifestyle brings that highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And that’s just it… it’s a lifestyle! It’s not something you can clock out of at 5:00 and forget about it for the entire weekend. Sure, that’s something I am striving for as I continue to work on creating boundaries for a work/life balance that feels right for me. More so, this lifestyle is one for the people that can roll with the punches, be flexible and battle imposter syndrome daily.
I’m thankful to have the drive inside me to never fully be satisfied. Yes, of course, that’s a double-edged sword, but I am incredibly grateful to not approach any project (be it for a client or for my own business) with a “good enough” attitude. While there are certain circumstances where ‘done is better than perfect,’ I never make this my mantra. I have some real perfectionist tendencies (and I’m always working at keeping them in check), and I am grateful to have the mindset that I need to pull back instead of the mindset where I need to ramp up and find the energy for more.
—
My Husband
I know what you’re thinking, “Well, of course, she’s going to put her husband down… they just got married so they’re all lovey and honeymoon-y…”
Sure, there may be a little of that, but in reality, it’s only maybe 5% of that!
As I mentioned earlier, my husband and I just moved from fiancés to husband/wife a little less than 3 months ago, but we’ve been together for over 6 years and have really been together as a marriage-in-progress for the last 3 years. Of course, it’s not always been easy— no relationship ever is, but it has been real.
He’s been the person to push me to work hard, do better, to make myself proud and, live up to my full potential. He’d been the one telling me that I need to self-employed and that I’ll never find happiness working for someone else… He’s been telling me that for years!! It took me a while to listen and finally put some steps in motion, but when I did, he was there cheering me on.
Not only does he talk the talk, but he damn sure walks the walk. I couldn’t even tell you the number of date nights, family gatherings, or get-togethers I’ve had leave early or cancel or not attend at the last minute due in pursuit of my career goals. While he’s not always when these things happen, he never gets mad or stops supporting me. He’s a rare breed, this one… he gets it… and I’m pretty sure that my drive to succeed is part of why he loves me. So yes, I am incredibly thankful for his presence in my life and his unconditional love.
—
BONUS** My Dog, Sequoia
I probably spend more time with this lady than I do with humans. She’s with me every single day as I work at my desk, she sleeps soundly (but not quietly… this one can SNORE!) on her bed right next to me. She reminds me that there’s time for work and there’s time for play, that I can’t take myself too seriously because I will still end up stepping in shit, and that sometimes all you need is a good cuddle on the couch. She’s my Head of HR and holds me accountable— yes, she’s not a child, but I do want to work as hard as I can to be able to give her the best life I can— which definitely includes bringing her home toys and chewies randomly. She’s the sweetest lab/pit bull mix you will ever meet… always serving as a reminder that you can’t make superficial judgements… because a lot of those judgements are based on zero truth.
—
I challenge you to sit and reflect on the parts of your life for which you are truly thankful. There’s no right or wrong answer, but I can almost guarantee that once you list them all out, you’ll see things in a new light a cherish them just a little bit more. If you feel comfortable, please share what you’re grateful in the comments section below!
