And then the gratitude did not come freely…

First the Gratitude

gratitude jar entry for april 12th 2025 — *4/12/25* I am grateful I was able to have some sushi today!

gratitude jar entry for april 13th 2025 — *4/13/25* I am grateful for the help of others as I adjust to Zepbound.

gratitude jar entry for april 14th 2025 — *4/14/25* I am grateful I am able to live a happy life with normal struggles. ♡

Now the Discussion

Let me preface this by noting that I worked at least 12 hours a day last week. I also struggle with stress tolerance.

In 2012, my mother passed, and my mind broke. I changed from a workaholic to experiencing severe anxiety. This happened whenever I felt my life was too hectic. This included work schedules and various regular adult responsibilities.

Saturday, my mind snapped from stress. I had worked so hard last week that it caught up with me at once. Everything made me cry. It wasn’t hard sobbing, rather soft tears at random intervals.

What does this have to do with my Gratitude Jar?

I’m trying to build up to this explanation:

Finding something to be grateful for over the weekend and today was not easy.

I am having a particularly hard time finding gratitude in my life right now. I’m feeling the weight of life on my shoulders.

Yet, here I am doing it anyway! I think the real celebration is that I keep being grateful despite the struggle.

If you consider I was not capable of checking my mailbox seven years ago, you can see my growth. I was afraid of bad news back then. I’m freaking thriving today!

This is just a challenge to beat. That is all!

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2 responses to “And then the gratitude did not come freely…”

Krishna Shiwarkar

April 14, 2025

Angela, your journey is incredibly powerful, and your courage to continue practicing gratitude despite the overwhelming weight you’re feeling is truly inspiring. The fact that you’ve come so far since the time you couldn’t even check your mailbox shows incredible strength and resilience. Stress and anxiety, especially after a life-changing event like the loss of a loved one, can be so difficult to navigate, but your ability to acknowledge your growth, even in the toughest moments, is a testament to your inner strength.

The act of finding something to be grateful for when life feels like it’s pushing you to your limits is no small feat, but you’re doing it. Sometimes, the greatest victories are in those small moments, even when they feel unremarkable or insignificant. Just showing up, holding onto gratitude, and continuing forward is a powerful achievement. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding us that growth doesn’t always look how we expect it to, but it’s there. You are thriving, even through the struggle. Keep going—you’ve come so far, and you’re clearly on the path of healing. ❤️👏

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1. Angela Shupe
  
  April 14, 2025
  
  Thank you so much! Your words mean a lot to me. I am truly touched. ♡
  
  I find that many stop trying due to the pace of growth. It is overwhelming at the time, and sometimes that growth just takes its sweet time to become a natural habit. I am very tenacious, though. I’m notorious for banging my head into a wall until it becomes a door. If I am determined something is the right approach for my betterment, I keep going until it works.
  
  You are a blessing my friend, thank you for sharing a piece of your mindfulness with me today!
  
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