Sitting in my office, shelving, furniture, and decor were all pulled apart to refresh the room. I am full of gratitude. My gratitude has always been very simple; I am grateful for the ability to walk, talk, see, hear, smell, touch, feel, and speak. I am thankful for my family and friends. My heart swells when I think about what my Higher Power and the Twelve Steps have brought into my life. This list has not changed much over the past 30 years. The depth of feeling has, however, significantly expanded.
Good living holds new meaning to me. Recreating my office into a new space to breathe fresh energy into my home allows me to live creatively. Many would not bother doing a task like this. Why change what is already working? For me, this creative flow of energy results in a multitude of positive emotions. Using what I already have, regrouping and shifting a few old items out, and bringing in a few new are just some of those little things that bring me joy. It is productive and honors a part of me that has always loved doing this, even as a child. It honors my authentic self and sustains manageability in my recovery.
Additional gratitudes for the joy of good living often reside in fresh sheets, a clean car, my dog playing, a blue sky, colorful leaves, or enjoying great food. This list of simple things to be grateful for could go on extensively. Unfortunately, before recovery, I was pretty oblivious to these things.
This Thanksgiving Season, explore what brings you small joys and allow yourself to feel that emotion. Next time you laugh with a friend, take a walk, go to the gym, enjoy the quiet in the morning, or whatever feels yummy to you, pause and feel. Allow those feelings of joy to spill into simple gratitudes that can deepen and expand. Consider keeping a Joy Journal to grow your gratitude. Nurture these feelings and allow them to shine outward and touch those around you. Celebrate the joy of good living.