This Grateful Message Made Me Cry

We need excuses to be grateful these days, because life is chaotic. The news is soul-sucking. Social media flogs us with a perpetual message of “You’re less than.” In the midst of an appearance blitzkrieg, I found something unexpected.

I’m grateful a listener told me how much my program matters.

Please savor his story. Take it to heart and make it yours.

Andra,

At my Rotary meeting two weeks ago, I listened to a lady speak about being grateful. She is the CEO of a company called Grateful Box. She said a lot of things that really struck a cord with me, and I decided there were some things I needed to change in regards to my attitude of gratitude. I committed to implement a 365 day challenge, where each day over the next year I would tell one person that I am grateful for them and why.

Today, I choose you!

You spoke at my Rotary Club this morning in Indian Trail.  I purchased one of your books, but I never introduced myself because who I am doesn’t really matter.  What matters is that towards the end of your speech, past the stories of your plight with your father and the funny commentary of your experiences on the Trace, you made a comment that hit me square between the eyes.

You said, “be sure to turn your ‘I wish I had’s’ into your ‘I’m glad I did.”

I have never heard that phrase put together that way. I didn’t expect you to circle back around and connect those dots as you did.  You made a wonderful connection to the fact that your journey made you appreciate your father more; and it took an unusual circumstance for that to happen.

On your own, you likely would not have sat at your father’s feet to listen to another story. But because you had this mission, the only person that was free to help you achieve the goal was the only person you needed to spend this time with; and you didn’t even know it.  I would say that was a God thing.  Others may not, but I believe God allows everything to happen for a reason…even which speakers to come speak at a Rotary Club.

When I set out to accomplish this 365 day challenge, my initial thought was that I would select from the people I knew. After all, you can’t very well be grateful for someone you don’t really know.  But after you finished, my first thought was,

“She needs to be your person today.”

Ok, that was actually my second thought. My first thought was, “She is a character and there is NO WAY she is a CPA.” I too am an accountant, and I know the stereotype we carry. I would say 99.9% of the time it is true.  LOL!!

Andra, I am grateful that you took the time to come talk to us this morning about not just a book, but about making memories. I am grateful for the reminder that our phones and electronic devices are memory stealers. They often times keep us from enjoying the simple things in life. I am grateful that you were able to build a connection with your dad that will allow you to remember him in a positive way. And I am grateful that God used you to tell me to stop letting the frustrations of life govern how I live life. Time is fleeting. I wished I had done so many things that I cannot go back and do.

But each new day is an opportunity for me to create an “I’m glad I did” event that I will remember forever.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Don’t know about my trip with my dad? Get your copy of my NYT bestselling memoir Not Without My Father by CLICKING HERE.