It’s easy for me to go through the day without stopping to think about gratitude, possibly because it’s overwhelming for me to stop and think about gratitude. I am almost impossibly ‘fortunate’ or ‘blessed.’ I feel like I’ve won the reincarnation lottery and I’m not quite sure what I must have done or who I must have been in a past life to deserve this enchanted life that I lead. With so much poverty, carnage, sexism, racism, hunger, disease and turmoil in this world, I don’t know how I’ve managed to come up unscathed. Had I been born in Europe 70 years ago, I likely would have perished in a concentration camp. Had I been born 300 years ago in this country, I likely would have been a slave. Had I been born now, in a country plagued by war, to a community stricken by ebola, to a family that lost their home…I don’t stop to think about gratitude because the list is so long… the ways in which I am fortunate are so deep, but alas, it’s also important to reflect.
When I was ten years old, my family went on a trip to Indonesia. We were visiting a temple in Jakarta and one of my clearest memories from that journey was the tour guide explaining to us that in his culture, the worst thing one could be reincarnated as is a frog — because frogs have big bellies and all they eat are flies, so they are never satiated. I don’t know why that image stuck in my head all these years. Perhaps because at age ten I had never given much thought to the afterlife or the idea that how I behave in this life can affect who (or what!) I am in the next…and perhaps the idea of flies being the only item on the meal plan hit home. None-the-less, regardless of my grown-up feelings about what happens after-death, I do believe that how I behave in this life can deeply affect what happens when I’m gone.
I need to think about gratitude more often because it keeps me humble. It reminds me that just as easily as all these gifts were given to me they can be taken away. Life is so fragile, so tenuous, such a gift…and in moments when I’m annoyed, sad, frustrated or angry I have to remember how good I have it: my health and the health of my dear ones, my incredible family, a creative career that brings me joy, a roof over my head in a city that I love, and a satiated belly.
So this Thanksgiving, while I try to not over-eat– I will think about all the people in the world whose bellies are never satiated. And then, I will try and follow those thoughts with more action and more commitment to affect positive change in this world. Because gratitude is a great start, but it’s the actions that follow the feelings of gratitude that are most meaningful.
I am thankful for you.
<3 J
Beautiful post. I love your styling and blogging, but I’m especially glad to know that along with your talents comes a kind and thoughtful heart. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Julie! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
So beautiful Justina! Thank you for all the loveliness that is you. Couldn’t have been a more heartfelt and moving Thanksgiving message. Loved it!
Thank you Justina. I echo your sentiments on gratitude. I too am so blessed and am compelled to live my life in such a way that I am mindful to pay it forward. Enjoy the season of gratitude.
I inadvertently neglected to include my name in the last post. Again, blessings to you and your family, friends and fans/followers during this season of gratitude.
Thank you so much, Silvia. Wishing you blessed holiday as well!
This post really touches me! I tend to take things for granted and forget that I am lucky to be born in a loving family and surrounded by nice people. I need to stop being the girl in the meme of first world country problem/sadness.
I am so guilty of this too–just another reason I’m glad for this holiday as a reminder of just how fortunate we are, yes?
Justina, I am thankful for your ability to humbly, quietly, creatively find the beauty that surrounds, and I am thankful that you share it in this place.
Your words are so fitting– after my 4-hour-that-should-have-been-45-minute commute this evening, trying not to beat my head against the steering wheel, just one mile from my sister’s house was a horrible motorcycle accident– life-changing for at least one family’s Thanksgiving meal tomorrow and thereafter. The fragility of life is sometimes taught in unexpected, unpleasant moments, but perspective is a beautiful thing.
Thank you for sharing this Sarah.Yes, some perspective is often needed….Have a wonderful holiday and I happy that you arrived safely to your sister’s!
This is such a beautiful post. It touches me a lot. I agree with everything you say. This is the way I feel every day. But I must admit that sometimes; I am afraid. Afraid because I feel like I don’t deserve all the great things that’s happening to me and that someday something bad will come… Quite a selfish though I know. Thank you very much for your blog that I adore! Have a lovely day Justina!
thank you for sharing your words on gratitude. what a lovely post and well said. i appreciate your words and really took them to heart! all the best to you and your family this holiday.
Word of advice – avoid any schema of choice made by someone, even if suggested by your near colleagues. Don’t bother with copying tactics, yet calculations can work in some cases.