Posted by Sanne November 21st 2017, 9:31am
This article landed in my inbox this morning. While we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in the Netherlands, I know many of our members do. It can be tough to feel like we have things to be thankful for when we're stressed, depressed and burned out.
Quote:
“Grateful? Are you serious?” I was overwhelmed, burned out, depressed, hopeless. I struggled to get through each day and somehow present a calm, functional face to the world. What did I have to be grateful for?
After a long silent moment, my therapist gently persisted. “Think of one thing you're grateful for, about yourself. No matter how small it is.”
“Well,” I said slowly, staring down at my hands, “Thumbs are amazing. I am glad I have thumbs that work. My thumbs are long and have a good shape.”
Since she was as astute as she was compassionate, my therapist did not scoff. Nor did she ask me to expand my list. She simply said, “Great. Let yourself admire your thumbs for a while.” As I continued to stare at my hands, I was startled to feel a small, hopeful ray of light pierce my dark mental prison.
Though I've forgotten almost all the other details of that long-ago terrible year, I vividly remember that as the moment I began to recover.
After a long silent moment, my therapist gently persisted. “Think of one thing you're grateful for, about yourself. No matter how small it is.”
“Well,” I said slowly, staring down at my hands, “Thumbs are amazing. I am glad I have thumbs that work. My thumbs are long and have a good shape.”
Since she was as astute as she was compassionate, my therapist did not scoff. Nor did she ask me to expand my list. She simply said, “Great. Let yourself admire your thumbs for a while.” As I continued to stare at my hands, I was startled to feel a small, hopeful ray of light pierce my dark mental prison.
Though I've forgotten almost all the other details of that long-ago terrible year, I vividly remember that as the moment I began to recover.
Community Feedback
- I actually have a cuddle client on Thanksgiving. I've been wondering if it was scheduled intentionally, and if so, how emotional this one might end up being. This might be good for me to keep in mind.
-
Thanksgiving in two days...after what happened to me last night I almost forgot. My night was not good
I'm glad this article was posted.
Been going though a lot myself and I keep having to remind myself there are people out there who have it worse off than me...this article...well I suppose it does brighten my mood. I mean, I now have a new found love for my thumbs (in all seriousness try picking something up and not using your thumbs...it's hard!!) -
@PrettySir: You're welcome! I hope it helps you out.
@Demilicious: Thank you for sharing that with us even though it must be painful to relive those moments. I'm glad you've been able to find things to be grateful for all things considered. I hope your story will help out others as well!
-
I think this is a wonderful reminder that no matter how bad it gets, there is always something to be grateful for. This year Thanksgiving was pretty rough, admittedly. Now, I'm in Canada so my Thanksgiving was October 9th, and this year has been particularly difficult because I essentially lost my entire family this year; aside from my husband and my step-mum. I lost my Papa back in late July and it was .. horrendous. I'm actually still on leave from work because my depression and grief only decided to kick in some two months later and, obviously, really hard. But despite it all, I forced myself to be grateful for something and take note, because I luckily had that guidance to from my Papa my entire life. So, .. as painful as it was, I thought back and thought on how my Papa and I always eagerly awaited the Rhododendron's to bloom. They'd always be there for his birthday & every year we'd go to all the parks to see them. It was painful, heart wrenching, I'm tearing up just now actually, but they are beautiful and most of all; fond memories that I will always cherish.
Another thing too, though of a darker nature, is that he died before the pain got so bad that the hospital would have had to put him under 'pain management', which is essentially loading your body up with morphine to the point that you really don't understand what's going on, but this is for cancer and not in general, so please don't mistrust our hardworking healthcare workers, they work hard and save lives. I wasn't trying to demean anyone, but for cancer, that's just how it turns out if you stay around long enough. My Papa didn't and I'm so glad because he was really afraid of that.
Despite it all, there is always something to be grateful for. Hades_
November 21st 2017
11:08am
This is a fantastic reminder. Thank you for sharing.
Commenting has been disabled.
Zelphyr
November 21st 2017
12:40pm