I woke up this morning feeling grand waves of appreciation. It is definitely not always the case–most mornings I struggle to get my eyes open so I can get in the shower and get myself going and the rest of the house. While I have learned how to focus more on appreciation over the years, it has been a concerted effort–relearning how to see the glass as half-full instead of cracked and leaking. I have met other single parents who used to think of themselves as optimistic but since becoming single parents find it more of a challenge. This morning, however, it came upon me without much effort, I simple woke up in my soft, cozy bed; in a relatively clean, toasty house; with the cats waiting in the doorway for their morning attention and my children all sprawled in their own snug beds and felt incredible appreciation for this life I am living.
I have to confess that I think appreciation is one of the greatest tools/gifts of the single parent. And it really is a choice. Like many people, I have a natural tendency to get worried, stressed and fearful about what the future might bring. How are we going to pay for college? Is it time to get the cat’s exams and shots and how am I going to pay for that? Whose doing their homework? What about those work deadlines looming up ahead? All of those thoughts can get this single parent in quite a tense and stressed place!
But what good does all my worry do me? Mostly it just keeps me from being able to experience the joy and love that is all around me. Appreciation, however, takes me to a wonderful place where I can see the gifts of my life and ward off some of that worry.
Also: We Don’t Always Have to be Serious