Gratitude

What is the most important thing in your life? I have given this a lot of thought.

It turns out that the most important thing in my life is pizza. I should probably explain.

We are living through a global pandemic.

During such times, it is probably fair to say that many of us have considered what is really important to us. What is the most important thing to you? If everything else in your life was stripped away - what would be THE ONE THING that you would fight hardest to keep?

As a Key Worker, I had to continue going to work through the Lockdowns. I walked into the city each day, through virtually empty streets. I used to walk in the middle of the road... just because I could! People were anxious. Many people were very fearful. Many people did not want to leave their homes at all. Some people, myself included, had no choice, We had to keep things running. I went to work each day with a very simple aim; keep all of our teams healthy and keep myself healthy. My great hope, every week was that I would get to Friday evening fit and well - and to be able to share pizza and Family Film Night with my family. My great fear was that I would not only get Covid, but that I would have to wave at my family through a window - as many people were having to do. I lived in fear of that. There was one week when my children's school closed, their swimming classes and football team closed. They were told that they had to stay in. That same week I went to the shop. There was no meat, milk, bread - and famously, no loo roll! We missed out on a lot. But Friday Film Night was a place of sanctuary and hope. I feel that I learned to deeply appreciate again the very simple things in life - and to be very grateful for them. Now, we know we should be grateful. However, in 2016 I was taken very ill very suddenly. I went in an ambulance to Accident & Emergency and then spent a few days in the Acute Medical Unit. I really thought that it was the end for me. It was a shock. It felt like standing at the edge of the abyss. I remember that on my second day in hospital that I was allowed to take a very short walk in the garden (only for about 3 minutes). I took a photo of the sky. I had thought that I would never see the sky again - and so I took a photo. I was so grateful for something so simple.

I decided then (in 2016) that I should be much more grateful for the simple things in my life. However, by the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020, I needed another reminder. Life just takes over. It is easy to stop being grateful and to start seeking more and more and more. We need to remind ourselves at certain times that being grateful is a state of mind that needs to be refreshed time and again.

I believe that to be a pilgrim means to have a grateful attitude on every step of our journey and to develop a deep appreciation for the things that mean most to us; we need to be grateful for them, and find contentment in them. At the end of each day, I rest in the comfort of my bed. I spend a moment thinking about all of the events of that day that I should feel gratitude for;

the comfort of our home,

the simplicity of switching on the kettle in the morning,

the privilege of having a job to go to,

cold water from the tap,

the food on our table,

the conversation around the table,

the ability to to take in a deep and painless breath,

the embraces from my family,

living in a peaceful place. For all of these things,

and so many more, I am filled with gratitude. Let it be so.

photo by Fatima Akram, from unsplash.com