Seven Days of Gratitude

 

   One week ago Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, broadcast a video asking people to post messages of gratitude on social media for the next seven days. He asked that the posts be marked with #GiveThanks. 

   I'm sure thousands of people from around the world posted in response to this message. Certainly many of my social media friends did, including a few that don't post on social media very often. I did as well. (Scamp also joined in.)

   This was not my first time doing this. Two years ago I wanted to do something to help me feel the spirit of gratitude. I thought about posting something for which I was grateful once a day for seven days. I posted pictures of my yoga mat, my furnace, my fridge, washer and dryer. We take these things for granted sometimes, but many people live without these conveniences. It helped a lot. I enjoyed doing it. At then end of seven days I felt better and some of my friends had commented on what I had posted.

   Last year I decided to do it again. It was a tough year. In January, the independent pharmacy I worked at closed ending what was my dream job. I found another job at a local chain that I thought was more stable. In July the chain closed their pharmacies and I was unemployed once again. I went to work for a doctor who wanted me to start a pharmacy in his new clinic. There were a few things he hadn't told me about that prevented me from putting in the pharmacy that he wanted. I decided to license it as a consulting pharmacy. That way when the clinic moved into a different space, a full pharmacy license could be easily obtained. Until then I worked as a medical assistant.

   It became more and more clear that this was not going to be a place where I could continue working. By the middle of October, I was unemployed a third time. Fortunately, I got notice that I could take a payout on a pension I didn't even know I had. It was just enough money to keep us going until I found another job at the end of 2019.

  After my seven days, I felt better. My outlook was a bit more positive. In December I found my current job. I started in January.

   When I did it this year, I was determined not to repeat things. I'm grateful that Facebook shows previous posts. It prevented me from duplication. There was one post that I did share from a previous year. I felt that it was so well done that sharing it again was worth it.

   This year has been rough. The isolation has been difficult for C, who is a social person. It was also a bit difficult for me as well. Things that I like to do like have lunch with my Dad and Uncle James, were no longer possible. I worried about small businesses closing. At the store there were shortages of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer. We were unable to stock thermometers. There was such a demand for them and things were being allocated.  

   Thinking about things I do have for seven days instead of focusing on what I couldn't do helped as I knew it would. Looking back on what was going on in 2019 made me very grateful for everything in 2020, even with civil unrest and a pandemic.

  I'm ready to finish this year and see what 2021 will bring.