03 Thanks

What's something I want to thank myself for enduring or growing this year?

Intro

During fall 2024 I attended a workshop with journaling mentor and coach Joelle. You can follow her substack at Reconnect and Befriend; her Instagram is Reconnect and Befriend Coach.

To help conclude this year (that wraps up a quarter of the twenty-first century), Joelle's recent substack offered three questions – with three lively illustrations – to answer as we anticipate a bright 2026. This third reflection is about thanks or thanking.


What's something I want to thank myself for enduring or growing this year?

On the way to Thanksgiving Dinner, each of us shared what we were especially thankful for. What had been. What we anticipated might be. On Thanksgiving Day, everyone was thankful for shelter. For enough food, even when or if it always wasn't elite and deluxe and decadent. We had gratitude for each other, for whatever semblance of community was happening. Thanks for some employment—even jobs that weren't too terrible.

I'm almost always happy to look back in time to discover how far I've come by faith and by grace. Astonished that God goes to my future and waits for me there.

Many individuals end most days with a gratitude list, but Joelle suggests thanks with a different focus. It's about where I've been, what I've been through, how I may have changed as a result.

During 2025, what did I endure or go through? Joelle didn't specify, but those words sound like hardships more than they sound like things working out or a series of unexpected surprises. Most years most people experience at least a few difficulties and disappointments.

I had a few. More than discrete instances I can name, it's more that I didn't find my coveted long term housing. Didn't get more opportunities I wanted and needed. I want to blame myself because I barely reached out or tried to connect, and that's a factor, but hundreds and thousands of attempts to connect already hadn't budded, let alone flowered or borne fruit.

When I was formally studying music performance and later on when I was performing, I'd learn the notes to a new piece of music and practice it to a certain level that wasn't quite public performance ready. Then I'd let it rest for a while before returning to it a few months later.

Is resting what I did with my hopes, dreams, wants, needs, and expectations during the past twelve months? I think it was! For that I'm super thankful. It had to have been Spirit Inspired, because on my own I wouldn't have thought of doing that. I'll call that a time of "enduring." I hope it led to some growing I haven't yet discovered or discerned.

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