Finding Gratitude in the Midst of a Storm

In all honesty, the year has been a very tough one in almost all ramifications including; physically, emotionally, and even financially and with the way it turns out, if I were to be approached by someone earlier this year and was told things would be the way they are, I'd have doubted them, but then here we are. Above all the ups and downs and crooked paths that made me feel like giving up due to pain, uncertainty about what the future holds, and the like, I'm still grateful for life. Like they say, when there's life, there's hope that tomorrow will be somehow better than yesterday.

Amidst all of these, I've come to realize that life isn't always a bed of roses, and despite all the letdowns from all corners, there have been a few glimpses of light that make me feel like I'm not outrightly down or losing, although sometimes it takes me time to pause and reflect to notice some of these reasons, be they small or great. What matters is that they're worth being thankful for, and with that being said, I'll be focusing on things that bring out gratitude in me this year thus far.The first of which is life, like I said above. While it may sound simple to many, there's more to it than meets the eye. Because of all the health scares I experienced this year, it has made me realize that we shouldn't take waking up each morning for granted.

Month again I was a regular at the hospital, but here I'm breathing, hopeful, and fighting, which on its own is worth being thankful for. Secondly, I'd like to be thankful for the gift of family blessed with. I really don't know what my life would have been if not for them. I understand we've all had our fair share of trials, including the time my elder brother was kidnapped and how he miraculously escaped.I remember how drained I was back then. It was a test of our faith and strength, but overall it brought the rest of us together and showed us the power of unity in decision-making and prayer as a family. The fact that he got kidnapped, though brutally beaten, but managed to come back home in one piece is something I can't stop being grateful for.

Despite the ups and downs in my finances as well, especially regarding seeking good health and paying the police to help investigate my elder brother's kidnapping before he later escaped, I'm still grateful for how far I've come and the things I've been able to accomplish or achieve within the year. I remember talking about securing a landed property weeks ago, after having to sell the one I had before to resolve a health challenge of a family member. I see this as a win and a plus to why I should be thankful this year, and, additionally, I'm thankful for the lessons and growth this year has brought on my path to date. Trust me, I never expected some of them and won't be sharing some until they fully unfold, so I'll just still say I'm grateful for those as well and hope everything works out well till the end.

Overall, I'm thankful for hope, which keeps me on my feet, pushing me towards different milestones and helping me sail through each one despite the challenges and stumbling blocks on my path, and I hope this hope will never fade away. I'm also thankful for the ambitions I have and the goals I'm chasing because they're what make me believe that my tomorrow will be far better than my today.

Here is my entry for the Hive Reach out weekly prompt, you can come participate as well, @oluwadrey @nkemakonam89 @sholex94

All photos are taken and edited on canva.