Gratitude for Freedom of Choice

On Thanksgiving Day. May people throughout our great country will express thanks for family, friends, love, health, and the worldly possessions that make our existence most pleasant. These are, indeed, many of things for which I am grateful and for which I say thanks every day. Today, as I washed the dishes and listened to my children roughhousing in the basement, it came to me that I am most grateful for my Freedom of Choice.

I believe that the way in which we operate in this world is reflective of not only who we are but who we choose to be in each moment. I believe we are born into this world for a specific purpose, to learn specific things. How that ‘shows up’ will be different based on the choices that we make at each turn.

Because of my choices, I am here today, and very grateful for that. My past has shaped my present but the power of choice is mine to exercise. The question is: what will I do with this power, this awesome freedom of choice? This power puts me in the driver’s seat of my life.

I remember the first time I went on a vacation by myself. My mantra was that I would do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted with whomever I wanted. I was giddy with the expression of this freedom. It was as if I had never experienced it before. In fact, during the first few years following my divorce, I often found myself ‘silly’ with the prospect of such control over my choices.

What I have come to understand and embrace in years since is that I have always had the freedom of choice… I just made different choices. Accepting responsibility for the part we play in creating our circumstance is an excellent foundation for healing. By acknowledging that we always had the power of choice and yet we chose to live is disharmony, can be humbling to say the least. Why we would choose to create a present that doesn’t serve us is a mystery, but it is from these choices that we can learn the greatest lessons.

Today I am thankful family, friends, love, health, and the worldly possessions that make my existence most pleasant. I am thankful for my experiences. I am thankful for the many Lessons Learned.