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On finding my gratitude, and for that I am grateful

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Licensed in Connecticut

I am off to a late start with the 10 days of gratitude challenge. I'm actually grateful that I found the challenge today. Reading some of the wonderful posts kind of brought me to my senses. 

The last few weeks have been an enormous challenge for me. I am not talking about anything to do with politics, but if you add that in, wow... it has been more than a rough road to hoe!

You know when that monster inside of you takes hold, and you just can't think of one single thing to be grateful for? I was running through my gratitude list trying to snap myself out of it. Each time I would think of something I am normally grateful for, there just didn't seem to be any gratitude there. 

Boy is that frightening!

Then I ran across a few of the gratitude posts for Day 2. With each post I felt lighter and lighter inside. And I only read 6 of  them! Imagine how I will feel by the end of the challenge when Thanksgiving arrives! 

So for today, for this moment in time, I am very grateful for Debbie Reynolds  and her wise gratitude challenge. I'm grateful to Bob Stewart for supporting it. I'm grateful for the posts I have read so far, Belinda SpillmanKathleen DanielsBarbara Todaro,  Wanda Kubat-Nerdin, Rebecca Gaujot, the Go To Realtor®  and Myrl Jeffcoat. And of course I am off to find some more of you to be grateful for today and beyond. When you see my comment, you know I am grateful for you! Thank you.

I seem to have found my gratitude that I lost along the way! And I am very, very grateful.

And to think, I wanted to cancel Thanksgiving this year. Wow... 

 

the sun will rise

 

 

Posted by

Andrea Swiedler, Realtor, Southern Litchfield County Real Estate

2017 President, Greater New Milford Board of Realtors

2017 Connecticut Magazine 5 Star Realtor

 

 Search homes for sale in Litchfield County, CT.

 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Litchfield County Regional Office,375 Danbury Rd, New Milford, CT 06776

 

© Andrea Swiedler 2009 - 2017

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain

Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Andrea- I am a little sad that you were in such a place that you wanted to cancel Thanksgiving but I'm also very happy that Debbie Reynolds Thanksgiving challenge and those whose posts you've read have helped to lift you up. 

Nov 16, 2016 03:24 AM
Andrea Swiedler

Kathy, it happens. Sometimes we let an event really take our lives over. And it wasn't even over the elections! But I feel like a different person now, and I can't put into words how grateful that makes me. I did tell one of my daughters I didn't want to do Thanksgiving this year, she was so sad. She will be happy now!

Nov 16, 2016 03:43 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

So sorry to hear you have been in such darkness...I  have been there far too much lately too. It's something we all go through and it's simple things like reading about other people having gratitude that can snap you out. Happy to hear you are feeling better.

Nov 16, 2016 03:25 AM
Andrea Swiedler

Sharon, I hope you are finding a way out too. I don't like it!!!! I am happy to hear I am feeling better too, LOL. Because it was horrible, simply horrible. And unnecessary. 

Nov 16, 2016 03:44 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I think we have many blessings that dwell right under our noses, if we would only recognize them!

Nov 16, 2016 03:49 AM
Andrea Swiedler

Myrl, you are so right! Thanks for helping me. 

Nov 16, 2016 04:36 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Andrea Swiedler  I understand that feeling .It does get to you for a minute or two and we snap out of it

Nov 16, 2016 03:58 AM
Andrea Swiedler

Hannah, it does happen, and it is such a surprise to me when it hits. I'm so glad it lifted, whew!

Nov 16, 2016 04:37 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Any day I'm not dead is a day of gratitude to me, Andrea. You've got a few doors of opportunity open right now, and change is always something we tend to resist, but I expect a few months from now you'll view your life with different eyes.

Nov 16, 2016 05:45 AM
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I love your post, Andrea! I bet this is one many of us will be thankful for even if we are not in one of those dark phases. You reminded us to drink from the pure springs instead of the muddy waters. 

Nov 16, 2016 06:40 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Andrea Swiedler I think you just made Debbie Reynolds gratitude challenge even more important! Thank you for sharing how this helped and reminding us there are ways to cope and  there are others to turn to when  darkness surrounds. We are thankful that you opened up which may help others.

Nov 16, 2016 10:25 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Thank you Andrea. This challenge came to me as I sat down to write my daily post. I was going to do a market report and my fingers started typing about being thankful. I knew I needed to write some posts about the things important to me and before I knew it I wanted to invite everyone to join in. I feel really blessed and am more blessed having read your post.

Nov 16, 2016 10:58 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Andrea, soooooo glad you found your gratitude and you are not cancelling Thanksgiving.  We need only open and I mean open our eyes to see God's blessings on each and every one of us.  Great post and makes one think, really think!

Nov 16, 2016 11:22 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

P.S.  Thanks for reading my post and glad it helped lift you somewhat!

Nov 16, 2016 11:22 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Andrea Swiedler - reading as many posts as I can - in this contest!

Isn't this the greatest blessing we have in 'Rain? Not to mention about so many we are  thankful for.

Nov 16, 2016 02:34 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Maybe you should be grateful you had an excuse to not have lunch with us?

Nov 17, 2016 10:06 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                    Thanks Andrea Swiedler 

Nov 19, 2016 11:52 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Good morning Andrea Swiedler, you're a bright light in the universe, you are unique and precious. We all go into that dark place from time to time, I've learned to be positive and recite positive affirmations even if I don't believe it. In a few minutes of intentional self-positive talk, I find myself in a better place. Always remember, you are the most important and deserve utmost happiness. ! Hope you're in a better place today than you were yesterday.

Nov 19, 2016 11:06 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great post!  I can see why Kathy chose to high light it this week!

Nov 19, 2016 11:26 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Andrea

I really loved this post and am glad to see that Kathy featured it. Debbie's challenge is turning out quite a remarkble series of posts, and that in itself is something to be grateful for. I think it's sometime easy to forget all that we have, big or small, and having something kick-start our thinking about those things is welcome indeed.

Thank you for this wonderful post!!

Jeff

Nov 19, 2016 11:36 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Andrea, this challenge has come at a perfect time for a lot of us.  It sure helped me to climb out from under my favorite rock! 

And I love your super moon!

Nov 20, 2016 02:06 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Andrea

I thought for a minute when I first read your post Vegas Bob saw his name in the group with the others, and then it disappeared

It was very strange and your post has been featured to the group:

HAPPY AT ACTIVERAIN

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Nov 20, 2016 08:40 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

I am late to the party... but sometimes it is good to be late. Thanksgiving is behind, and things hopefully have settled, at least a bit. We are vulnerable creatures and it is so easy to get overwhelmed and get bitter and frustrated... Merry Christmas!

You can only do the best we can, so wishing you this best of yours to be comforting, soothing, easing any tensions...

Dec 23, 2016 07:49 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Gosh, forgot to mention. I love this photo with the clouds so much. Actually I love both, but this dramatic sky has the drama in it... And I thought that it would simply be marvelous, if we could keep the drama only in photos... :)

Dec 23, 2016 07:51 PM