I watched this video on gratitude and happiness the other day and it inspired me to write this series. The world and the internet are full of so many things that are supposed to make you happier, or improve your bad days, but before this moment and watching this clip I never realized that there was one thing, that no matter how sad, lonely, depressed or just plain bad you feel can always lift your mood, and you don’t even have to be unhappy to get an extra little healthy boost of happy from it. It’s called Gratitude.
I have the words Be Grateful tattooed across the inside of my right wrist and I always thought of them as a reminder to appreciate the things I have and remember that life is a blessing no matter how messy or confused it can get, but if I’m being honest I had never thought of being grateful and showing gratitude as one in the same. Yes I knew I meant to appreciate my life, my home, and my family, but until now I didn’t realize that what was missing from my philosophy was not only feeling grateful, but showing gratitude to those I am grateful for.
So today I write a letter to someone special, someone who means so much to my life and hopefully next week I’ll write another and so on, I may skip a week or not get around to it as often as I should, but I would like to continue on with this Gratitude Series and show all the people who mean so much to me that they hold such a special place in my heart.
Here goes…
To my Older Sister,
I can not muster a memory from my childhood that doesn’t have you in it. You never came into my life like some people do, I was born into yours, and with the seven year age difference I was well aware of the fact that sometimes to you I was small and annoying, but that never stopped you from making my life special, from taking time out of your busy existence to make my childhood both wonderful and magical. I remember hearing sleigh bells on Christmas Eve and waking up to special presents slipped onto my pillow while I was sleeping. Once you transported me to an African Safari full of wild animals and elephants. We had Koosh wars, and whip cream fights and despite occasionally shutting me out, my whole life I have been confident that no matter what you would always let me back in.
When I was a teenager you were my rock. No matter the time, or the day, or what you were doing you always had the time to listen to me if I needed to talk or you’d drop everything to pick me up when things weren’t going so smoothly at home. You treated me like we were equal and told me about things no one else would.
There have been few moments that I have truly felt like I was being there for you and as much as life has thrown your way you always seem to stand tall despite it. You are the strongest person I know. Out of everyone, and though I know you have your bad days and your rough moments you always look for a positive spin and pull yourself back up and find the beauty in the world and the people around you.
You have been an invaluable influence on my life and I could not and would not have the happiness that I have today if you weren’t my sister.
I love you,
India
Beautiful, you are blessed to have such a connection. Great share 🙂
Thank you!
I love you so much my Sista!! And now I’m crying like a baby, haha
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