Monday, October 27, 2014

practicing grateful

I have a hard time asking others for help. Ever since I was a tiny little girl I've been fiercely independent. "I do it all by myself," two year old me would sternly scold whenever offered assistance. Even as an adult, "Do you need any help, Chrissy?" Is usually met with a- "Nope! I'm good, thanks!" For many I've HAD to do things all on my own. As we grow up we learn how to depend on ourself financially, mentally, physically. The more I relied on myself the more I started to see needing help as a sign of weakness or inadequacy.

And then came parenting... and they aren't lying about it taking a village. But still I tried to be my own village. I was afraid to need someone else. If I were a good Mom I would be able to do it all on my own, right? WRONGO. It's still so hard for me, but I am learning-painfully practicing asking for help. Practicing saying- I need you. Many months ago my friend Annie and I were having a heart to heart about what friendship means to us- because so many people have such incredibly different definitions. My heart has been broken by a few different inconsistencies in that definition. I said to her- "I'm going to try and let myself need you because I know that's part of truly being friends with someone and I want us to be REAL friends. I will TRY and tell you when I need help- and I'm awful at that- so if I do- I need you to show up. Even if it's incredibly inconvenient for you. And I want you to tell me when you need help too because I want the opportunity to be there too." 

I'm still practicing. When I do things for someone else it's never with the expectation that I will get something in return. I do it because it feels wonderful and it's important to me to give to others in ways that I can. I think giving is easier than receiving. When someone does something over the top nice for me I don't know how to handle it. My first thought is usually- THIS FEELS AWFUL. (Most likely the OPPOSITE of the givers intentions- right?!)  How soon can I pay this back? I wonder. What can I do for them? But I can't always pay it back. Not everyone is good at everything. Doing something for others is not about keeping score. It's not about owing. It's a vital part of humankind. Sometimes the only appropriate thing to do when someone does something for you is simply- be grateful.

And if you stink at that- practice. PRACTICE MAKES AWESOME. Look around for opportunities to be grateful. Once you start looking- it's everywhere. ABUNDANCE.


I want my boys to be as independent as possible- but I also want them to accept the help from others. I don't want them to feel bad or less than or like they owe someone something. I just want them to feel happy and taken care of and grateful. I want to learn to feel that too.
Sometimes the opposite of receiving isn't giving, it's grateful.

 photo _MG_3242_zpsedc3486d.jpg
Last week we went to a Farm Market that is part of Fresno State University. They have some of the best ice cream in town.

 photo _MG_3268_zps1a0ad75b.jpg

 photo _MG_3265_zps417fe31b.jpg

Afterwards we visited the cows across the street to say thank you. A university with a farm on it- how crazy is that?

 photo _MG_3277_zps48cc1322.jpg
THANK YOU COWS! YOUR ICE CREAM IS DELICIOUS! 

I want my boys to be aware and appreciative of the gifts we receive, and I want them to be grateful. I don't want them to feel entitled or guilty or like they owe somebody something- I simply want them to feel amazed and grateful.




7 comments:

  1. the opposite of receiving isn`t giving, it`s grateful.
    I LOVE THAT! And I am so grateful for your blog. Thank you Chrissy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this post because I have been practicing this for the past few weeks. I was feeling a little down the other day that I only got a few words out of Daniel but then I got KISSES. REAL KISSES! Grateful? Check!

    We have Aggie Ice Cream at Utah State in Logan and the BYU Creamery in Provo. I'm headed up to Logan today so thanks for the reminder that I should take Daniel to get some Aggie Ice Cream, even if it's 34 degrees right now. I'm from NJ so colleges with farms on them stunned me a bit when I moved here too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your blog is amazing! I found it last week and have been reading voraciously back thru the archives. I have a son with Super Powers too, but his Super Power is Cerebral Palsy. Your posts are so so honest and they resonate deeply with me. I can identify with many of the issues you write of. Your boys are beautiful and precious! Thank you for sharing your story!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Friend, I couldn't agree more! Someone framed it for me once by asking why I would want to rob someone else of the joy of helping. I believe in gratitude and paying it forward in whatever shape that comes. Accepting kindness without resentment leaves us with more kindness to pass on. Not always easy!
    I am grateful to you for your humor & honesty & breath taking photos of Grey and Puck-A.
    Love & happiness, sweet Momma xoxo Miracle

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this! Thanks for the reminder. One of our family sayings (adopted from the former Wake Forest basketball coach who died suddenly) is "Don't delay gratitude." So, so true!

    Leora

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm grateful for your blog Chrissy.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and Parker's smiling tiptoe pic makes me smile big :-)

      Delete