Blog
Every Day is a Gift and a Chance to Give Back
June 14, 2018
Hi Passion Fit Crew!
I hope your summer is off to a wonderful start. Over the last several months, I’ve been writing so much for third party magazine and news publications that I haven’t had as much time to write in my own Passion Fit blog lately. Therefore, I wanted to take some time to do just that, because I’ve had a lot on my mind these days and enjoy sharing my thoughts and ideas with you guys. I tend to get more personal in these posts as well, which is always nice for me to connect with my readers on a deeper level.
In today’s post, I’d like to share my thoughts on why every new day is a gift and a chance to give back. In my opinion, this is a perspective that can serve us well, no matter what our life circumstances may be. In essence, it can encourage us to practice empathy and gratitude, which can provide our lives with more fulfillment, a rich perspective and deeper meaning, in good and bad times.
Over the last few months, so much has been going on in my life and the world around me. Yesterday was my birthday, which was wonderful, but it also marks the four-year anniversary of when my grandfather passed away, which makes it an exceptionally bittersweet and reflective day for me each year. Also, my dad had been sick and in the hospital recently and after a few long and tough months of working hard with the support of his doctors, nurses, my mom and our whole family to get his strength back, he’s thankfully strong and healthy again.
I’ve also had a few different friends who have recently experienced the loss of or serious health issues pertaining to their parents, grandparents or children, which has been truly heart breaking. In addition, while the end of the school year and beginning of summer mark an exciting time for many people, it’s also a bittersweet time for parents, as our kids are growing up so quickly before our eyes, that it’s sometimes hard to bear.
Since all of these life situations could be difficult for any human being to endure, having a sense of empathy for others can really go a long way in facing and learning from these situations. We never know what someone might be going through in their life, which is why I believe it’s so critical to put ourselves in their shoes, give them the benefit of the doubt and lend a helping hand in times of need. We all go through ups and downs and remembering that can help us all feel more connected and understanding of one other.
Empathy is a key focus in my sons’ elementary school and is something my husband and I are trying to teach them at home as well. If children can learn this important skill early on in life, they may be that much more able to make a positive impact on others and give back when they become adults as well.
Gratitude is another important aspect of living a meaningful life and an important skill to learn early on in my opinion. While some days may provide more challenges in our lives than others, no matter what we may be going through, there’s always something to be grateful for. Sometimes it just requires digging deep, looking at the world around us with our eyes wide open and talking to people who are close to us and who can provide us with that perspective.
Being thankful for the big things in life such as our health, family, friends, faith, love, careers or homes, are some of the best places to start in my opinion. However, also being thankful for the little things in life, such as a sunny, warm day, beautiful flowers, a delicious meal, getting to sleep in, looking at the stars or going for a run, could also put us in a gracious state of mind.
Life is never perfect, but I truly believe it’s a miracle and a gift. It also provides an opportunity to practice kindness, spread joy and love and give to others. If we can all take more time to view life in this way, the possibilities of what we can experience in our lives are endless!
That’s it for today, Passion Fit Crew. I hope you consider every new day of your lives a gift and have a chance to give back to others in ways that are meaningful to you!
With love, empathy and gratitude,
Reena