A Matter of Perspective

With the cold temperatures and the skiff of snow we received over the weekend, I felt a renewed sense of dislike for winter.

I grumbled as my feet hit the cold bedroom floor. It used to be carpeted, but we had to remove all the carpet upstairs due to water damage caused by the tornado of 2022 (seems like it was longer ago than that!).

I grumbled as I stumbled my way to the bathroom. My body did not want to get started this morning. It was too cold.

I mumbled under my breath as I got ready to go out into the cold and perform the task which I had promised to do.

I complained to no one in particular as I hit my head getting into my cold van. 

When my bare back hit the cold seat of the van, I screamed a little! (My coat had slid up when I got in because of the static that is ever so prevalent this time of the year!)

I didn’t have to grumble about the van starting. Thanks fell from my lips as I realized I had so much to be grateful for. At least I wouldn’t have to walk to Long Prairie!

I really grumbled when I saw the traffic backed up for about 1/2 mile to get to the Long Prairie Craft Sale. I was going to be late.

By the time I got to the sale to ring the bells for the Salvation Army, I was good and crabby!

But as I was walking up to the door of the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School, I thought about what I was about to do and why I was doing it.

I have a lot to be thankful for but that may not be so true for everyone. I would be ringing the bell for people who needed help. I would be ringing the bell for people who couldn’t ring it. I would be doing something for someone else who I probably don’t even know.

I thought about my minor complaints from earlier in the day. I really had a good morning. 

I could be thankful that I had a floor to put my feet on when I got up. 

I could be thankful that I had an indoor bathroom!

I was thankful for having a reliable vehicle.

I was thankful for the traffic because it made me hopeful that the vendors at the craft sale would make money today.

And I was thankful for the cold and the snow.

Without those two things, I wouldn’t appreciate this Spring as much!