What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?
As the year comes to a close, it’s easy to look back at it and think of all the hardships we endured. Loved ones lost. Trials we went through. We often feel drained and dead stare into the new year with the dull hope that it’ll be better–but we’re not holding our breath because we don’t want to be disappointed.
I was coming down from a rough day when trying to decide what to write for this post. I didn’t want to be at my workplace, I ungracefully endured an hour of rush hour traffic, and some friends of mine and I are in conflict. It’s easy when all the tension piles up to think back to that famous song of how it “hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.”
Then I came across this prompt. What positive events occurred this year? It made me wonder. Why is it so easy to come up with bad things? How come we can look back at the year and think “oh, it sucked because A, B, and C happened?” Well, what about the good like this prompt suggests? What good things was I able to do this year? I dared myself to come up with at least three. Three things that I’m grateful for happening this year.
- I became a cheetah trainer.
My zoo welcomed several new cheetahs and I was able to become the primary trainer to one of them. I taught him his name, how to target, lay down, and line up to voluntarily receive a vaccine. I got to meet an amazing cheetah keeper on a trip to a different zoo and we stay in contact about the successes, research, and observations we come across. - I got my first two full manuscript requests for my novel this year.
After so many rejections, I was able to successfully pitch my novel to several publishers in person, and two were interested in reading the entire thing! They could still turn me down, but at least I know I’m capable of getting a full request. - I got a kitten.
What a bundle of energy to brighten my day and cuddle with at night. I was so nervous about taking on the responsibility of a raising a kitten, but when I saw her, I knew she was mine. I’m excited for our first Christmas together.
What about you? Can you think of at least three positive events that occurred this year? Three things to hold onto to help you end the year in gratitude?
nikki diekemper 