Yep, here I am, sitting at home. Working remote with a two-year-old running around.
First off, I am crazy grateful. And I’m grateful to have a response of gratitude for things. This is not something that came naturally to me. I have worked for years on practicing gratitude.
Not long after I started my blog, I even wrote a series of posts on gratitude including The Power of Gratitude.
It’s amazing to notice the times when it does come naturally now.
In February I started a new job as a software developer. I was super excited. The company was low on cash to start with and hired me on part time with hopes they could move me to full time as their revenue increased.
And then, you know, the Coronavirus thing. After four weeks, they let me go.
I was bummed out and worried about what is next for me. I felt a little hurt and angry and shocked.
But I also immediately started coming up with reasons why it was a good thing.
- I have more flexibility to be home with my partner and son during this crazy time.
- It was not the best fit for me anyway but I would have tried to tough it out for way too long even though I already knew that.
- I have some time to learn new skills and work on projects that interest me.
And then I started coming up with more things in my life that I have to be thankful for:
- I have another job that was also part time and now I can focus on it more. I can put more into it and get more back out.
- I have a house in the mountains and it is gorgeous up here and a really, really nice time to live somewhere with lots of outside space.
- Then there is my son who always, always ranks at the top of the list of things I am grateful for even when he drives me nuts.
It’s just amazing to me how easy it is for me now to automatically find things to be positive about even when things don’t go my way.
It doesn’t make things all better. I still had some negative feelings about the company that let me go but they have tapered off quickly. I still have some anxiety and concern about looking for a new job with the current state of things.
The thing is that I don’t stay in those feelings. I remind myself of the positive things I can be doing.
And I see so many people finding good in these tough times. Ironically, it seems like maybe even more people than find good in the good times.
I hope that whatever struggles you’re facing right now that you are able to focus on some positives along the way.
