Thanks for the bad things?

Yes, I know there are no bad things! There are only circumstances that we label as “bad.” And we have all seen some great things come into our lives from bad experiences.

So, let’s change the word “bad” to “challenging.”

Now our mental state shifts to one in which we are not defeated, but inspired.

I give thanks for the scary things, the monsters in the dark corners. If nothing else, they provide contrast. The light is more dazzling after being in the dark. And in the light I see more of the kindness and love that people show in those moments.

I give thanks for the people in my life who don’t like me or what I do. I learn valuable lessons from them about myself and how to understand better why I do what I do.

I give thanks for my cancer scare. It taught me how precious life is and how much I love living.

I give thanks for the sadness and anxiety I have felt after having lost my husband and my sister. It  opened my heart to the love I want to share on a daily basis with all those I love.

I give thanks to rough times with my family. Through them, I have learned how to listen more carefully, accept more graciously.

I give thanks for the all the tiny day-to-day aggravations. They have taught me skills for coping even when I don’t feel like it. And they remind me that they are tiny!

I give thanks for the bad things. They show me so clearly how much I have to be thankful for.

And have YOU found some blessings in YOUR lessons?