Gratitude is so Gangster

The definition of Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
I bought this shirt from @spiritualgangsta (https://spiritualgangster.com) that says, “Gratitude is so Gangster” That shirt absolutely spoke to me because Gratitude is Gangster (Not like Al Capone Gangsta) more like you coin the term and you are riding hard for the word Gratitude 💫

When you have down time, you often are in control of it, you may say things like, “I’m taking PTO or I’m taking a vacay, or I’m tired I’ll go next time, or sorry I’m going miss it”. Choosing your own down time or shut down often gives you time to reflect or express gratitude but this down time has been forced because of COVID-19. COVID was sudden and plans were implemented to halt all social gatherings, and quarantine with stay home orders and don’t go out expect for essentials OMG WHAT?!?! 🤯😳😱 Panic, fear and worry of the unknown, layoffs and furloughs was the trickle effect of this shut down.

COVID-19 has disrupted our lives, but during this pandemic gratitude has been expressed to our essential healthcare workers, our grocers, our sanitation workers and our government and before COVID-19 did we express our gratitude specifically to them? No, we were much more focused on chasing paper, what time the game started, what time the concert started, swiping left to find your next date or what you were wearing to Sunday Funday, booking our next flight, and jetting setting off to an island, booking that next conference, attending those board meetings or booking that speaking engagement, planning weddings and gender reveals. All of the grinding and social gatherings as we have grown accustom to has ceased. 🙅🏾‍♀️

No gratitude was expressed when the Mayor/Governor shut the city down to slow the spread of this plague so we wouldn’t run the risk of dying 💀 I know it is hard to find gratitude when you had trips planned, weddings planned and all of that having to be cancelled and people being lay-offed, and having to relay on the government you aren’t confident in, then people dying from COVID and people are having to grieve and plan funeral services. 😢

Then for the people that it hasn’t effected it wasn’t like thank you I am able to work from home or thank you I have everything I need. Responses to the shut down I saw, one was more concerned about not being able to watch a game cause the season was cancelled than grateful they have a safe space to watch a game, one was more pissed off they had to home school their children than be grateful that their children were still being provided an education. How have you expressed gratitude during this shut down? What are you thankful for?

Before COVID-19 I had my annual performance review in February which brought forth a raise and a bonus, my bonus went into effect March 13th and my raise would begin April 17th and then on top of that I was eligible for the $1200 stimulus and my construction business is still considered essential and we were granted an Economic Disaster Grant through the SBA talk about grateful! I am grateful that I am still employed and able to work from home and run my business without having any disruptions. I got a bonus, a raise and a boost in capital for my business. I am GRATEFUL!

It is so so so easy to complain, gripe and grumble but
Cease and Be Still. 🙇🏾‍♀️
Cease and Be in Gratitude.🙏🏾
No matter your circumstance or climate of society have an attitude of Gratitude 💫

Where are my introverts? For introverts this is a dream come true...lol I know my introverts are grateful, introverts typically socially isolate without a pandemic but introverts still like to get out every now and then. For extroverts who thrive off of social interactions and contact they may not be in a place of gratitude at the moment, but they may get there. One thing is for certain this too shall pass, we are going to have to embrace a new normal after COVID-19 and we are going to have to have an attitude of gratitude that we are going to have to continue to show everyday.

Are you having a hard time to expressing or showing gratitude here are some examples for you

Let me be grateful for my home.

Let me be grateful that I am safe.

Let me be grateful that I am healthy.

Let me be grateful for the air I breath.

Let me be grateful for the food in my refrigerator.

It is finding so many things to be grateful for that we become appreciative and more ALIVE which makes gratitude so gangster.

XOXO

#BGUC