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Daily Question, November 9

What challenging situations have brought out the best in me?

  • Malag

    Probably the deaths of people close to me. In the midst of grief there was a willingness to be authentic, to drop the masks. That resonated and much of it stayed. That said things that bring out the best can also simultaneously bring out the worst! It’s two sides of the coin: both are truly human.

    • Howie Geib

      Thank you. For I had not thought of this aspect of death and grief. I need both hands to count the times that ‘foxhole spirituality’ have awakened a deep spiritual awareness and caused a much needed reset in my soul.

  • PG

    When life throws challenges at you , you need to figure out ways to get over that challenge and implement them till such time you achieve your goals or at least till you overcome the challenge. I thank god for giving me the power to do that.
    I am thankful that I am able to stay with my parents , spend more time with my family because we have got work from home facility which I had longed for very badly.

  • Ose
    I don´t know if it is the best in me, but I pray for my dear friends who themselves or their relatives have to suffer and for those who have to face difficulties; recently for people to vote wholeheartedly; for healing; for kindness radiating, an order built on warmheartedness and Love - like a stone thrown into a still lake sets in motion rings of energy waves (a beautiful picture recently posted along with a Word for the Day). Today I found new strength to cultivate it even more. Thank you fo...

    I don´t know if it is the best in me, but I pray for my dear friends who themselves or their relatives have to suffer and for those who have to face difficulties; recently for people to vote wholeheartedly; for healing; for kindness radiating, an order built on warmheartedness and Love – like a stone thrown into a still lake sets in motion rings of energy waves (a beautiful picture recently posted along with a Word for the Day). Today I found new strength to cultivate it even more. Thank you for this question, dear Gratefulness-team.

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  • Carson

    Moving away from my family has been and still is difficult. I don’t get to see them much now – even less due to COVID. It has made me appreciate the time that I do get with them even more though. And I am thankful I am living with my loving partner and have a good job.

  • Pollyanna Gladwell

    All of them… eventually!

  • Dusty Su
    Oh, good lord, ha, ha, I’ve had to write a book (literally) to cover this subject up to 12 years ago. Now I am working on short stories under a collection called, “An Arsenal of Optimism” and I am certain I’ll never cover all the examples that pertain to this question. There’s no such thing as one example, nor is only ever only a flu with me. I have by nature embraced optimism, then wrestled with it so that I could genuinely also embrace pain and work through buried trauma, well hidden...

    Oh, good lord, ha, ha, I’ve had to write a book (literally) to cover this subject up to 12 years ago. Now I am working on short stories under a collection called, “An Arsenal of Optimism” and I am certain I’ll never cover all the examples that pertain to this question. There’s no such thing as one example, nor is only ever only a flu with me. I have by nature embraced optimism, then wrestled with it so that I could genuinely also embrace pain and work through buried trauma, well hidden under optimism I’d add. I have tried to throw optimism out, but at the end of the day, I cannot. No matter what life throws at me, I have to be able to eventually make peace with it, find some good, even if it only be to empathetically understand other people’s struggles, and reframe.

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  • Hot Sauce

    The spiritual trauma I went through from 2010-2012 made me more interested in spirituality, more resilient, and more intellectually inclined. As I go into a career and ministry, I think I will do very well as a wounded healer for those who struggle spiritually or who have spiritual trauma in their background.

  • Don Jones

    The solitary retreats and facing up to who I really am.

  • Melissa
    Splitting my knee open on a boulder while mountain bike riding. This caused a knee replacement and 2 years of PT. It still is a problem and has taking away from me my love of hiking. I ride a bike now but it still gives me problems. Having to accept these limitations and stay positive have been my most challenging daily, as I am in pain quite often. Plus all the river running and hiking adventures I cannot do now. I miss my adventurous friends and community so much. I just keep working at bein...

    Splitting my knee open on a boulder while mountain bike riding. This caused a knee replacement and 2 years of PT. It still is a problem and has taking away from me my love of hiking. I ride a bike now but it still gives me problems. Having to accept these limitations and stay positive have been my most challenging daily, as I am in pain quite often. Plus all the river running and hiking adventures I cannot do now. I miss my adventurous friends and community so much. I just keep working at being grateful for all that I do have. Yet I must pray and meditate and work at it everyday to stay grateful. I don’t know if that is the best of me? It has made me more compassionate of others injuries and pain that is for sure.

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  • Lauryn

    The choice I made a year and a half ago to leave a toxic relationship and move across the country- not knowing many people or having much of a plan beyond a new job. I now find myself in a happy relationship loving my surroundings and feel it’s easier to just take a step back and relax finally .

  • Linda

    My husband’s health has been declining over the past several years, and I never saw myself as very good with sick people. But I have found a deep compassion in myself for his suffering, and am patient and loving with him. It has deepened our relationship and made me a better person, for sure.

  • Zenith

    The pandemic has brought my childhood traits back into focus. Meaning, I grew up to 6th grade without a TV in the house and pretty much made my own entertainment. Doing it again now.

  • Zenith

    As I don’t know what is best about me I cannot respond to this. I know I have drive and discipline and I used that alot in college 2008-2014. But otherwise nothing comes to mind.

  • Javier Visionquest
    Has diabetes brought out the best in me, or has it simply cleared the path of distractions that kept me busy with self service rather than self care? It inspires me to serve others rather than stay in competition to them. Diabetes has shown me that everything I do for myself will ultimately fail and that the relationships we develop are the only lasting and meaningful creations of our collaborative dreamscape, the highest and genuine value within this bewildering symbolic system of energy transa...

    Has diabetes brought out the best in me, or has it simply cleared the path of distractions that kept me busy with self service rather than self care? It inspires me to serve others rather than stay in competition to them. Diabetes has shown me that everything I do for myself will ultimately fail and that the relationships we develop are the only lasting and meaningful creations of our collaborative dreamscape, the highest and genuine value within this bewildering symbolic system of energy transaction.

    Read More
  • Carla

    Having my R knee replaced nearly two years ago; the intensity of pain; living in a transitional care unit (was a nursing home); then home to rehab during winter’s dark months took me to my core. My prayer life deepened. I learned to really ask for help from others. I received & found gifts of Grace & Tenacity that sustained me. My spirit Soared from the ash of a Phoenix.

  • Patricia

    Resigning from a position which in many ways I loved, but the toxic atmosphere with certain people was leading me to become a person I didn’t like. A radical shift – one of those “being true to my soul” decisions – has led to a more satisfying, faithful and rooted life. Amen.

    • Michele

      I 100% relate to this and did the same thing. I LOVE my new job and looking back I know I made the right decision. Best of luck to you!

    • Linda

      Good for you, Patricia, for making a decision to leave a toxic workplace. All the best.

  • Papilio

    Many moons ago, living with severe migraines as a mother of a toddler taught me many things. The most important thing I learned was “to surrender to God,” which allowed me to accept help from my husband and friends.

  • Trish

    Four years ago I made the decision to train for a walking marathon. I learned so much about my body and even more about my head, heart, body connection. I dedicated a great deal of time to prepare, traveled to an unknown city by myself and I crossed the finish line. It was an amazing experience that taught me I’m capable of persevering even during rough times.

  • kimthompsen

    This is a tough one. I’ve had challenging situation after challenging situation for over a year now. I think the fact that I have not picked up my addictive substance (been in recovery for over 10 years) is significant. The fact that it hasn’t called me is even more so.

  • devy
    Life is about coming to numerous ys in the road and having to make difficult decisions on which path to take. For me, stopping my drinking was my hardest decision. At the time drinking clouded my good judgement, was my way to console myself and reduce the anxiety and depression that I suffered from. It wasn’t until I was given an ultimatum that I realized that I was going to lose my relationship, my health and my lifestyle. Yes it was a difficult decision at the time but i can look back and se...

    Life is about coming to numerous ys in the road and having to make difficult decisions on which path to take. For me, stopping my drinking was my hardest decision. At the time drinking clouded my good judgement, was my way to console myself and reduce the anxiety and depression that I suffered from. It wasn’t until I was given an ultimatum that I realized that I was going to lose my relationship, my health and my lifestyle. Yes it was a difficult decision at the time but i can look back and see where I was and where I am now. I am much better off, have been healing myself and able to handle difficulty or a challenge much more easily.

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