Training to be Thankful

Last Monday at the morning's check-up I realised I did not have my ID card, I was surprised. I had left my wallet in town before coming to the barracks. Something of the sort has not happened to me in a rather long while. The one-way trip from town to the barracks is an hour and a half long, thus I cannot make it during the work week just because I happened to forget it.

I quickly started to scheme up a way to send it over by post or something of the sort. Then upon informing my parents, my dad said that he would make the trip by train just to bring me the wallet. And so he did. It's a rather straightforward task to travel from A to B, but it still breaks the rhythm of the day and is an uncomfortable endeavour.

After the said occurrence, I have started to try to pay more attention to people and things that I can be grateful for. Turns out there is a lot I can be grateful for. Starting off I am very grateful that I have family that can come help in a time of need. The wallet situation is not a very grave case, but it is proof, that people are ready to go out of their way to help me which is very comforting.

Later in the week, I read through my personal journal which I started at the start of 2023. It was another point at which I realised how much I have in this life. The life I got to create in Lille, the friends I have made along the way, and the opportunities I have been presented with. This overflowing gratefulness was especially good since before reading the journal I was down due to not getting out for the weekend. After flipping through the year's writings I realised that life is not so bad, pantha rhei or something along those lines.

So with today's post, I am encouraging you to also jot down a few things that you are grateful for. It really does change one's mood for the better to notice the good things in life! Furthermore, it is very comforting and interesting to discover prior documentation of feelings and situations.

P.S. My favourite entry in my personal journal was on the 18th of June 2023 when I wrote "I believe the worst is behind me" after finishing the prépa. Oh boy was I in for a treat just a month later when being drafted into the military.

This Week's Suggestions:

🎶 "Say The Word" by Chase & Status featuring Clementine Douglas :

This song is off of Chase & Status' new album that dropped not long ago. It is a mellow drum and bass tune with a catchy melody. The melody has a very interesting slightly sad/whiny undertone which makes the whole song compelling in my opinion.

🎬 "Failing Upwards" by Amy Edmondson :

This video goes in-depth on how to achieve said failure, because yes, we should try to achieve failure. But only the right one.9 There are three kinds of failure – basic, complex and intelligent failures. In order to better ourselves we are trying to reach for the latter.

That's enough, see you next week!