A year of Sundays:10 & 11: Holding Life With Gratitude

Choice, Awareness, and the Power to Live Well

What a wonderful time of year. The cold of winter is beginning to lift, and the promise of spring is quietly making its way into our days. There is a subtle shift happening—longer light, softer air, and a sense that renewal is near.

When I sat down to write this week’s reflection, I realized that I had missed a Sunday. So this entry is for two Sundays. At first, that realization surprised me, but it also reminded me how full life has been. I have so many things to be grateful for that my days feel rich and full of grace. Gratitude has a way of sharpening awareness. When we truly notice how much we have, the small moments become meaningful, and the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Confucius captured this realization beautifully: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one” (Confucius, as cited in Yutang, 1938, p. 214). There is something deeply awakening in that statement. The moment we realize that life is finite, we begin to live with greater intention. We begin to value our time, our relationships, and our inner peace.

Creating a Good Life

In the current state of the world, it can sometimes feel as though uncertainty surrounds us. News cycles, conflicts, and daily pressures can easily pull us away from our center.

But even in uncertain times, we must hold firmly to our power to create a good life for ourselves. Everything means something. Everything we think, choose, and do contributes to the life we are building. The Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius reminded us: “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do” (Aurelius, trans. 2002, p. 59).

Identity precedes action. When we decide who we are—what we value, how we want to show up—the path forward becomes clearer.

The Space of Choice

Yet life is not simply about determination. It is also about awareness. Carl Jung encouraged a posture of openness when navigating life’s experiences: “Hold everything loosely” (Jung, as cited in Hannah, 1959, p. 47). When we cling too tightly—to outcomes, expectations, or fears—we lose the flexibility needed to grow. Between what happens to us and how we respond, there is always a moment of possibility. In that small space lies one of the greatest powers we possess: choice. Choice allows us to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively. Choice allows us to remain aligned with our values even when circumstances are difficult.

This Week, I affirm: “I live with gratitude and intention. I choose my responses wisely and create a life filled with meaning and grace.” Every day offers another opportunity to live that truth.

References

Aurelius, M. (2002). Meditations (G. Hays, Trans.). Modern Library. (Original work written ca. 170 CE)

Hannah, B. (1959). Encounters with the soul: Active imagination as developed by C. G. Jung. Putnam.

Yutang, L. (1938). The wisdom of Confucius. Random House.