Foamy lattes always make the list

Counting My Blessings

We are a week into living in chaos and it’s frighteningly easy to become overwhelmed by this situation. I’ve cried more in the past week than I did in the previous 3 months of hotel life.

But it is November, and November reminds us (albeit often conjoined with a little gluttony) to stop and count our blessings. To be thankful. To cherish the moments in front of us and express gratitude for the moments passed. Oh, and to post those blessings on Facebook. Hello, a month of status updates. Done.

Too cynical? Maybe just a little?

Sure, there’s a line. And it’s easily crossed into “my life is so awesome, I just have to brag about it.”  Judging by my facebook stream it’s a line most of us don’t even know exists!  But it’s just as easy to cross over into that cynical space of thinking nobody can be that perfect, hopeful, lovely, etc. . . and chalk up their efforts to express their gratitude to narcissism.

(Ah yes, Narcissism. If you blog for any time, you will be accused of it. And if it doesn’t bug you, then stop reading here. If it does hurt your feelings, then don’t worry about the label. You’re clearly not one. )

So, what is it exactly that puts me on edge about all those Facebook “I’m Thankful for. . . ” status updates? I mean, Aunt Sally is a bone-fide exaggerator who tells all sorts of whoppers about how great everything is. Just roll my eyes and move on, right? But you’re not. You’re kind and generous and clearly grateful for your life. Why does that bug me? Am I jealous?

The truth is, for me at least, it’s really HARD to see the beauty in my life right now. Hence the tears. It’s difficult to see past the grime and clutter and the delays and the construction guy who just peed in my bathroom but didn’t bother to shut the door or wash his hands afterward!

All that beauty in your life. . . just makes me angry. So, heck-yeah, I’m insanely jealous of your life right now.  Of your clean houses and stressful jobs and your gorgeous kids. There aren’t random men peeing in your brand-new bathroom. I’ll admit it. Your happy shiny space makes me cringe. I’ve been so overwhelmed by this crazy project that I can’t see the beauty in my own life. That makes me petty. I know. It makes me not the best friend ever.

So maybe Clearly it’s time to put my “eyes on my own paper” before stealing glances in your direction. Time to stop, clear away the clutter and bad mental images, to see how blessed my life is. Time to count a few blessings.

As for you and your beautiful life. . . .

They say the best way (oh, They, always spouting off!) to take your eyes off your own misery is to help someone else along the way. But maybe it’s also true that the antidote to jealousy is gratitude. I don’t know if a they said that or not. But I’m willing to give a go. Because my heart could use some discipline. So, just for good measure, I will say a prayer of gratitude for the blessings in YOUR life as well.