OPEN SPACE
LORI WELCH BROWN
Changes in Gratitude & Changes in Attitude… …Nothing remains quite the same.
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ratitude has been part of my daily practice for quite some time, but this year required adding a whole new level. My list of things to be grateful for changed from things like family, friends, and wellness to medical professionals, fashionable masks, Grubhub, and Netflix. All the doctors, nurses, and healthcare personnel who went above and beyond this year are true heroes, and I am grateful to those who rose to this unprecedented occasion. The news
has been gut wrenching, and combined with a heated election and the overlay of COVID-19, the weight of the world has never felt heavier on our collective shoulders. At least in my lifetime except for 9/11, and several gruesome mass murderers that I can’t bear to recall. And yet, the human spirit finds ways to shine its light through the rubble. I am always amazed at the brave, courageous people who step forward, roll up their sleeves, and lead us through the darkness. I am humbled by them, and eternally grateful. I’ve seen it in my own family and friends. My niece, a young nurse, volunteered to leave her home base in Florida to assist the COVID efforts in New York for several months. A friend has hosted weekly Old Town Crier
fundraisers for the past few months raising thousands for local charities. I watched several neighbors leave each morning to work in hospitals and ERs during peak outbreaks. Several friends delivered meals to
for others that have yet to show up. I had days where I was most grateful for Schitt’s Creek and an abundance of dark chocolate in my pantry. In all seriousness, if you have
attitude. I know I’ll need both to get through the winter months. Nothing remains quite the same. Ever. Thank God. This year has been about change at every corner,
hospital and we have found new things units which in turn supported to add to our gratitude lists. local restaurants. I’ve adjusted my attitude so At every turn, there have hot water, food in your pantry, much this year, I likely need been reasons to be grateful, but some days have been easier and a roof over your head, it’s a to replace my attitude meter. good start. And, if I don’t make it to than others to find them. A I’m embracing changes in “Margaritaville” any time soon, mindset change was needed “gratitude” and changes in I may go insane. in many cases. Many people, I definitely including myself, need to change have had days As we bear down on the last couple of my attitude and weeks where months of this crazy year, I’m reminded of around food. The we struggled Jimmy Buffet’s song Changes in Latitudes: comfort food and with finding our over-indulging footing and/ These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, behaviors or reasons to Nothing remains quite the same. provided be thankful. I watched as one immediate Through all of islands and all of the highlands, of my friends gratification, If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane. struggled but are not a We are all reminded of places we’ve been. through some good longItaly, Austin, Greece, New Orleans! of his darkest term strategy. I hours. All I could realized that in Visions of good times that brought us so much pleasure do was what I October when And make us all want to go back again. was doing for I was feeling Anywhere, but my living room! myself, remind especially Good times and riches and son of a b#tch*s, him that there sluggish after We’ve seen more than we can recall. were blessings spending the So many SOBs! Especially in line at Costco. everywhere. We month of just had to look September But, we will be back again soon. harder for them in birthday Especially for TP! and maybe wait celebration
mode. All the cake, carbs, and Chardonnay definitely caught up with me. Time for a recalibration. Feeling well physically and mentally is paramount, and making decisions based on wellness needs to be a priority. Remind me of that today around 5:00 pm, okay? It’s a little scary heading into the holiday season when you’re already feeling a health deficit and waistline increase of about 40 percent. At this rate, I’ll be able to sub for Mrs. Claus if
Christmas isn’t cancelled. 2020, you’ve tested us, but we with our changes in gratitude and attitude, we are gonna be okay. We still have plenty to be grateful for, and although I can’t hug my dad, I remain hopeful that people smarter than me will make it possible one day soon. In the meantime, I remain thankful for all the blessings life has to offer, and hopefully, this election being in our rearview mirrors. Time to move forward and get this year behind us before I run out of attitudes. Happy Thanksgiving from my OTC family to yours. If you would like to read more of Lori’s work, you can follow her on Medium at Lori Welch Brown. November 2020 | 43
