Gratitude & Exchanging Places

Anne Maxwell was getting terrified of going to her regular weekly support group with her girlfriends.

“Oh Mom,” she complained at breakfast. “I get anxious every time the thought enters my brain. We meet twice per month on Thursdays and the night before I can’t sleep.”

Hugging her daughter, Eloise suggested as she eased from her embrace, then began sharing scrambled eggs from the frying pan on the stove, on her daughter’s plate, “Then don’t go.” Turning around to face her, she added two slices of toast she made earlier and a few strips of turkey bacon. Putting the plate in front of her daughter on the island facing her.

“Oh Mom, I can’t say no,” she moaned gazing down at her breakfast.

“Mint or green tea?” her mom asked.

“You aren’t listening Mom,” Anne said. “Mint.”

“If something is hurting you, you don’t go back into the pain,” her mom scolded dropping two mint teabags in two cups. Then pour boiling water in.

“They are my best friends. We support each other in everything Mom,” Anne elaborated.

“So, what’s the problem?” Her mother said, putting her cup of tea in front of her. Then sitting down to face her.

“They are so negative and depressing. They complain about everything. No thanks or gratitude for life, their health, job, relationships, our friendships, or for all the good that they are feasting on. I am just terrified to meet with them,” Anne explained.

Eloise enjoyed her breakfast as an idea circled her brain. Then she shared it with her daughter.

Anne was excited as she entered the restaurant to meet, Denise, Carla, Sadie, and Ora, hugging the large brown envelope in her oversized handbag that matched her shoes. They exchanged pleasantries and then chatted about their day. They ordered their meals, and then the sadness and negativity began to flow. Anne took up her bag from the left side of her chair and handed each, an envelope to her friends.

They smiled thanking her. Sadie was the first to respond, after tearing open her envelope and reading its contents, “What the hell is this?”

Smiling, Anne shared, “It’s an invitation to exchange places with a female Palestinian.”

Turning to Denise, she informs, “Yours, is to exchange places with a Haitian because you speak French, you will be fine there.”

To Carla, she explained, “You said you wanted to visit your motherland which is Africa. You can exchange places with one. Choose your country.”

Smiling she turned to Ora, who said, “Ukraine for me, right?”

Anne nods, “I am tired of you complaining of everything in your life. The people inside of these countries, their lives are worse than yours and they would be so happy to exchange places with you without a thought. I will buy your tickets too.”

Silence, along with understanding embraced each female and in tears, Ora said, “You are right. We are so focused on the negative that we can’t see the good in our lives.”

The three others wiped tears from their eyes, and said in unison, “You are right, they will take our places in a nanosecond.”

In relief, Anne shared, “Be grateful for what we have, and more good things will flow our way. Our lives are good, compared to them, we have no problems!”

They hugged Anne and she suggested as they eased away back to their seat, “Gratitude friends, let's make our girl's night out about being grateful for life, living, and all things in our lives both good and bad.”

They agreed.

Many humans focus on what they don’t have, ignoring the best part of their lives. Someone, somewhere out there will switch places with you without a thought.

If your heart could speak, what would it say?

Good and bad made up my life. Both teach me valuable life lessons. Gratitude for both.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.