Dating : Week 255: Steak Tacos

While we’re on the topic of revisiting, I went back to the recipe and the post I linked above. Those were written more than four years ago. Amazing to think about all that has happened since then.

I’ve often found quite a bit of meaning in going back to things I’ve written from the past. It’s like pulling a time capsule out of the ground. It’s interesting to see how my thinking has shifted and what I might have learned since then.

I read the post above — about thankfulness. I don’t begrudge the views that version of myself held. I still submit that thankfulness is so important. My grandmother taught me that. She always impressed upon me the importance of being thankful. It’s been almost two years since she passed, and the days that go by without me thinking about the lessons she taught me are quite rare. Lessons about thankfulness tend to be some of the most common remembrances.

So, no, I do not disagree with my former self. I think I’ve just seen more sides of the gem. That may be an odd turn of phrase, but let me explain. Throughout the ages, Jewish rabbis have often described their view of Scripture to be similar to that of someone looking at a gem. The more you turn it, the more sides you see. There are different reflections and angles. You’ve never seen all there is to see.

I feel the same way about thankfulness. The version of Aaron Charles that wrote that post in 2016 had lived a relatively easy life. I had some painful experiences to that point, no doubt. But I had been told to be thankful in all circumstances, and it had been pretty easy to parrot that back. It was easy.

The version of Aaron Charles writing this post, in 2021, has not had it so easy. None of us have. 2020 was a hard year. That’s when it’s harder to be thankful.

And yet, I still affirm the importance of thankfulness.

That doesn’t make me some gladiator of optimism. There were many days in 2020 where I was not thankful. There were excruciating days. At the same time, I truly believe that even finding small things for which to be thankful in those moments helped me through. I always have Sarah. I’m so thankful for her. I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for my God. Those are the big things. But there are days where I had to turn my focus much smaller. Being thankful for sunshine or my favorite mug. Those thankful moments don’t cover over the bad things that happen. No, not at all.

I just like what being thankful does to me. It helps me. I feel it’s a better posture with which to face the world around me.

As hard as it may be sometimes, I’m going to keep listening to what my Grandma told me. Be thankful.