Living In Gratitude: Blessings In Disguise

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

California has been experiencing a historic drought over the past four years. Initially, not many of us paid much attention to our decreasing levels of precipitation but during the past year or so, we have had to address our lack of water to ensure we had enough to meet our needs.

In times of abundance, we tend to take things-like water-for granted. We got used to letting the faucet run while we hand washed dishes and brushed our teeth. We would indulge in long, relaxing showers, washing our cars in the drive and nurtured expansive, verdant lawns.

Those things have changed as we’ve become more aware. From this drought, most residents of California have a renewed appreciation of how vital and precious water is. We are now embracing conservation methods that include the practice of letting our grass go brown or replacing it altogether.

In life, there will always be challenges and hardships but there will also be abundance. Each offers us opportunities to learn and grow, to reignite our gratitude for things we may have begun to take for granted, such as the abundance of water, food, shelter, our health, our family and friends, our livelihood. It also provides blessings in disguise.

We all have our umbrellas at the ready, hopeful that the promise of El Nino will bring much needed rain this winter. Yet along with the possibility of above average rainfall comes the chance that we receive more water than our parched earth can absorb. Whatever Mother Nature decides to bring, be aware of and prepare for the possibilities, find the blessing in disguise and give thanks. Choose to find the good, embrace what is, remember what really matters and be thankful.