A perfect storm brought me my gratitude habit.

What enters your mind when you hear ‘the perfect storm’?

Negative, unpredictable factors coming together to cause a catastrophe?

My friend, Andy Sporring, recently wrote an essay about how a “perfect storm” of events can have negative or positive effects. 

After reading his essay, I immediately thought of one of my ‘perfect storm’ experiences.

Good often comes from what, at the time, appears to be the worst possible event(s).

A perfect storm brought me my gratitude habit.

After a year of supervising teachers doing their best in both in-person and virtual environments, coupled with changing to a new data-based system, I was at a low point in my 39-year career. This was one of my perfect storms.

I listened to a podcast about journaling gratitude. The host, who often spoke of his anxiety and depression, described his practice. Each morning he wrote:

Two statements of gratitude

One statement of intent to make it a great day

This simple practice changed his outlook. I could do that!

So I committed to 30 days of writing gratitude.

Almost two years later, I continue to start my day by journaling gratitude. If I write nothing else, I write gratitude. 

I’m grateful for the positive change that 'perfect storm' brought to my life.